Reporting results for the first time as chairman, Jack Kirkland said the firm had delivered another strong year with revenue edging up to £938m.
Pre-tax profit fell back 18% to £54m due in part to challenging markets and a £2.7m loss on the sale of a US telecoms business, Decatur Electronics.
Kirkland said the firm remained strong with net assets at £436m and net cash up from £316m in 2017 to £409m at the August 2018 year-end.
He paid tribute to his father John Kirkland, who stepped down as chairman at the start of this year, and his uncle Robert Kirkland.
Since his father and uncle took control of the family business in 1978 turnover has rocketed from £8.3m to approaching £1bn.
Over the year staff numbers swelled by around 15% to 1,500.
Kirkland added: “Our construction business under Paul Lomas’s exemplary leadership again performed well in all sectors and in all regions.
“Our forward order book is strong. We continue to grow our construction services division organically and through acquisition.
“This year saw the completion of our purchase of Munro Building Services, a market leading mechanical and electrical company based in Cambridge with a satellite office in Chelmsford.”