VolkerWessels UK margins edge up to 3.2%

Aaron Morby 7 years ago
Share

VolkerWessels’ UK operation saw its order book grow 7% last year to £1.08bn after securing a raft of major infrastructure contracts.

Alan Robertson joins the main Dutch group management board from April to reflect the UK's growing significance with £1bn sales
Alan Robertson joins the main Dutch group management board from April to reflect the UK's growing significance with £1bn sales

The project wins helped to lift headcount over the year by more than 120 staff to 2,713 employees.

Reporting annual results, Dutch group chairman Jan de Ruiter, said: “In the UK, the National Infrastructure Plan supports our operations and we have witnessed strong growth in our UK order book. Brexit, however, remains an uncertain development and may negatively impact our operations in the UK.”

He also announced UK chief executive Alan Robertson would be joining the main group board to give the UK business a stronger voice within the group as its sales grow to represent 17% of total group turnover.

2017 proved another steady year in the UK with margins edging up to 3.3% from 3.2%.

Revenue remained broadly stable at £872m, delivering profits up 7% to £29m. Taking the weak pound into account the profit growth in sterling converted to a fall of €1m compared to 2016.

He added that the long-term contract wins would strengthen VolkerWessels market position in UK infrastructure and provide greater visibility and stability looking forward.

Wins include the Chilterns Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct package C1 for HS2, Oldbury Viaduct for Highways England and the East Anglia ONE wind farm infrastructure for Scottish Power Renewables.

VolkerFitzpatrick was appointed by Hutchison Ports to undertake the latest phase of expansion at the Port of Felixstowe, and also secured the Luton Airport Mass Passenger Transit project. The Felixstowe project involves the design and construction of  13 hectares of paved container yard directly behind berth 9.

Latest news

China told to lift veil on ‘greyed-out’ London super embassy plans

Ministers give China two weeks to justify redactions in blueprints for £255m Royal Mint Court scheme
35 minutes ago

Mace wins £1.1bn British Library extension

Work to start on site next year after construction manager contract awarded
20 hours ago

Spencer shunts Volker on £29m Waterbeach rail station job

VolkerFitzpatrick misses out despite early contractor involvement
22 hours ago

Regulatory gridlock ‘knocks confidence’ in construction

RICS urges action as firms struggle with safety Gateway inconsistencies and regional planning delays
21 hours ago

McLaren tops contract league with Ebury Estate rebuild

July order haul among top 50 firms rises 14%
23 hours ago

Cheetham Hill Construction sold to staff

Howard Chamberlain to step-back from MD role after nearly 60 years
2 days ago

Buyers see sharpest fall in activity for five years

Grim July for construction as all sectors slump
2 days ago

Breheny bags Kent road upgrade contract

Work to start later this month on Maidstone site
23 hours ago

Caddick breaks ground on £28m Bilston logistics park job

166,500 sq ft logistics hub to be built at Foundry Business Park
23 hours ago

Mears grows profit as maintenance work ramps up

100% contract retention and rising margins deliver strong first-half performance
23 hours ago

Cardiff to get 50-storey skyscraper in bold new tower plan

Developer ups height to 50 storeys for BTR landmark near Principality Stadium
2 days ago

Bid race starts for Manchester £1.6bn light rail infrastructure work

Up to ten bidders wanted to compete for Metrolink work
2 days ago

Competitive brick market sees Ibstock struggle to increase prices

Revenue rises but profits dip at materials giant
2 days ago

Collins starts major London city fringe office retrofit

30 Finsbury Square refurb scheme will transform office block
2 days ago

Civils boss banned over classic car sales

Director sold assets cheaply to sister company before folding
3 days ago

Ex-Kier director joins Stepnell to grow specialist units

Mike Smedley steps in as strategic director to lead growth push
2 days ago

Clegg wins £80m Leeds office scheme

Eight-storey office project to rise on former Wellington Plaza site
3 days ago

Avant Homes takes £107m fire safety hit as losses mount

Builder led by Jeff Fairburn lifts provision by £39m for legacy cladding repairs
3 days ago

Profit recovery continues at Laing O’Rourke

CEO Cathal O’Rourke vows to "push the boundaries of what’s possible, in service of humanity"
4 days ago

Torsion clears Gateway 2 for Leeds student scheme

Firm to share lessons from the Gateway 2 process on Kirkstall Road 10-storey job
3 days ago

Bouygues chosen to build new children’s hospital

Construction to start within next 18 months on Cambridge site
3 days ago

Firms readied for £145m Welsh bridge race

Bidding to start this month for River Dee bridge replacement job
4 days ago

Cladding training boost to accelerate remediation work

Free courses for installers and supervisors to help accelerate post-Grenfell work
3 days ago

JRL replaces Ardmore on £150m City landmark revamp

Malaysian developer IJM calls in part-owned contractor for 25 Finsbury Circus job
4 days ago

Green light for Bristol Brabazon over-station office block

YTL to start eight-storey HQ building above new train station ticket office
4 days ago

£200m funding deal for hydrogen from waste plant

Tilbury site will be first stage of national network for green fuel
4 days ago

Go-ahead for London major hospital-to-resi scheme

Developer TT Group to deliver 140 homes and 65-bed care home on historic site
4 days ago

Civil specialist M Lambe slips into the red

Firm predicts bounce back this year as social housing recovers
4 days ago

Pickstock plans to revamp derelict Birmingham site

Developer looks to transform Soho Hill in the city
4 days ago

Retentions could be banned in late payment crackdown

Government considers abolition of hated system in construction
1 week ago