Diversification shields Keltbray from demolition slowdown

Grant Prior 5 years ago
Share

Expanding into new markets has helped protect Keltbray from a slowdown in work at its core business.

Latest results from the firm show turnover at the Specialist Contracting Services division fell to £258.5m for the year to October 31 2018 from £295.3m last time.

The division offers demolition, groundwork, piling and structures design on a “one-stop shop” basis often direct to clients.

Keltbray said this year would also see a drop in demolition and civils work “primarily due to a slowing in new, early work opportunities.”

But it added: “This reduction will be more than  offset by an increase in turnover at Keltbray Structures Limited, the reinforced concrete frame business.”

Keltbray also said it was looking to expand further in the rail sector following the acquisition of SPIE’s overhead power line business last year.

It said: “The group workload mix is changing to include more residential and infrastructure projects over and above the more the more established commercial base load.

“The group is also reviewing opportunities in other construction related market sectors and overseas to improve diversification and maintain turnover growth.”

Latest results show group turnover fell to £399.2m from £417.5m last time with pre-tax profit dropping to £17.8m from £23.7m.

Brendan Kerr, CEO of Keltbray Group, said: “I’m pleased with the progress made so far by our diversification strategy to maintain controlled and profitable growth.

“Our efforts have resulted in a good spread of turnover among our companies during the 2017/2018 period with the growth in both reinforced concrete structures and power stations decommissioning helping to offset falls in our traditional markets.

“We remain committed to our specialist contractor roots and the continuing investment in our self-delivery model.

“To employ, manage and train our own employees using our own specialist plant and equipment means we have a mitigation strategy to meet the challenging conditions we currently find ourselves operating in.

“We are contemplating further acquisitions to continue our diversification strategy and our directors are optimistic of continued revenue growth in 2019.”

Latest news

Berkeley subbies face six weeks without payments

Introduction of new finance software means payment hiatus for suppliers
8 hours ago

Pagabo reveals 56 winners of latest £1.6bn retrofit deal

Decarbonisation Solutions Framework launched: Full list of winners
8 hours ago

Go-ahead for £100m Liverpool Love Lane flats

500-flat scheme will be built across four blocks in Vauxhall area of city
8 hours ago

Unions win HS2 site access battle at Old Oak Common job

Skanska, Costain, Strabag JV now the last denying unions access to HS2 sites
7 hours ago

Contractors jack 1,100t viaduct into place in 13-hour operation

158m-long composite deck structure jacked into place 10-hours ahead of schedule
8 hours ago

Wates wins former Daily Mail printworks transformation

British Land advances major cultural venue at London’s Canada Water
1 day ago

Mace poaches Ramboll chief to be Head of Engineering

Martin Feakes will develop civil and structural engineering offer at Mace
1 day ago

Subcontractors form alliance for major civils jobs

Trio of specialists join forces to collaborate and offer Tier 1 contractors a turnkey solution
1 day ago

Fear of supply chain failures boosting collaboration

Procurement survey also reveals project bank account use is rising
1 day ago

Wates sets up business to target 160,000 mouldy social homes

Healthy Homes service will be offered to social landlords across England
1 day ago

Higgins wins £75m Peabody Passive House job

Latest phase of Deptford Landings to start construction
1 day ago

Contractors and unions agree Sizewell C working deal

New deal offers improved sick pay and parental leave over Hinkley Point deal
2 days ago

Competition chiefs win legal fight for more construction raids

High Court rules CMA officials can raid a domestic property as part of investigation
2 days ago

More Osborne companies file administration notices

Three more divisions lodge notices with court
2 days ago

McLaren wins multi-storey urban logistics contract

South London win with British Land is pioneering urban logistics hub
2 days ago

Big social housing schemes at risk over funding uncertainty

Housing associations warn uncertainty over public funding beyond 2026 is curbing new schemes
2 days ago

Kier wins Worcestershire town centre renewal

Firm secures Bromsgrove commercial and cultural hub project
2 days ago

BAM signs Kent school contract at £42m

Sevenoaks school rebuild signed off at £8m more than first estimates
2 days ago

RG Group signs £121m Newcastle rental homes job

Developer Olympian Homes advances 519 flats plan at Pottery Lane site
5 days ago

Geoffrey Osborne files administration notice

Contractor in talks to save parts of the business
5 days ago

Winners named for £260m Manchester Uni framework

B&K, Henry Bros, Graham, Robertson and Vinci among new line-up
5 days ago

Shed specialist Benniman rides out market lull

Worcestershire warehouse builder says industrial and logistics work is picking up again
5 days ago

Another contractor cleared after high profile immigration raid

Adana Construction employees were working legally on site swooped on by Home Office
5 days ago

McAleer & Rushe wants to meet new London suppliers

Contractor holding Meet the Buyer event in London: Register now
5 days ago

McAlpine signs £500m Broadgate dual towers deal

Work to start on iconic 36-storey and 21-storey towers
6 days ago

Worker rescued from collapsed four metre deep trench

Fire crews take six hours to save trapped builder near Blackwall Tunnel
6 days ago

Gove puts another major building scheme on hold

Secretary of State starts another planning fight after M&S defeat
1 week ago

Greenwich University tenders £300m framework

Up to five firms will carry out upgrade and newbuild work at three campuses
6 days ago

Work starts on Manchester 26-storey Obsidian tower

Contractor Domis starts Salboy's 10th Manchester scheme in seven years
6 days ago

Race for £1.3bn West Midlands social homes framework

The Community Housing Group reboots tender race for new build housing
6 days ago

Contractor services