Despite big challenges, Morgan Sindall took the honours as Contracts League champion for 2020, securing more work than any other firm.

Kier and BAM, which had jostled about for top spot with Morgan Sindall over much of the year, were finally eased into second and third place in the annual ranking.

According to information specialist Glenigan, the total value of new orders secured by the UK’s top contractors slumped to £28bn from £40bn in 2019 as Covid-19 and Brexit uncertainty kept planned projects on hold.

While the commercial building market still remains weak, civils work improved in the latter half of the year with work netted in the last three months of 2020 just over 50% up on the year before.

Within the top 10 ranking, Balfour Beatty dropped from pole position in 2019 to tenth in 2020. Winvic joined the elite, lifted by the surge in logistics centres and its move into multi-room student and private rental building.

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The monthly ranking for December contract wins was dominated by ISG, which charged up its order book with the UK’s largest battery factory project believed to be worth approaching £300m.

Regional contractor GMI also had a good month, as Siemens got it on board to deliver its £150m train manufacturing plant project in Goole.

The UK arm of Chinese contractor BCEGI bagged the £130m Galleries Redevelopment in Wigan for Wigan Council.

In Wales, Interserve secured a £139m contract to refurbish the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, while a consortium of FCC, Roadbridge and Tarmac/Alun Griffiths also finally signed off the £513m Heads of the Valley contract for Welsh Assembly.

A JV between Mace and Sir Robert McAlpine won the £69m The Forge scheme in London for Land Securities.