Latest results for the year to June 30 2023 show pre-tax profit up to £4.2m from £3.1m on turnover up to £133m from £109m at the civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist.

Barhale’s cash position also improved despite an increase in working capital requirement to fund the growth in turnover. Net cash at the end of the year stood at £3.9m.

Chief executive Martin Brown said things were going in line with the five-year business plan launched in 2021.

He said: “Our strategy is founded on sustainable growth, profitability and alignment with our customers’ critical success factors.

“After successfully achieving our year one goals of introducing new systems and processes, the primary focus in year two was to make sure they were fully embedded and to make significant investments in our people and plant.

“We have met our 4 percent PBIT target and continuing to maintain and build our long-term relationships with our client base. This has translated into a very strong current order book of £886m.

“Creating financial headroom, together with the successful delivery of our year two objectives, provides the platform for us to continue to reinvest in the business and marks another important step towards realising our five year growth aims.”

Brown said Barhale’s capital expenditure programme has earmarked £8m for investment in plant and machinery.

He said: “Safety remains our number one priority and the interface between our people and our plant is a key risk area. In support of this we invested £250k in AI-supported Human Form Recognition (HFR) technology.

“Over the coming year, we will continue to invest in our people, align our targets and objectives with our customers’ needs and further increase focus on cost management, engineering assurance and programme management.

“In a challenging construction sector which has faced rising prices and significant competition for labour, my team has worked diligently and relentlessly to ensure that we delivered our business plan. The results this year are testament to their efforts.”