M Group joins top seven as revenue jumps to £2.2bn

Aaron Morby 8 months ago
Share

Private equity-owned infrastructure services specialist M Group Services has joined the ranks of the industry’s top seven contractors after raising revenue 22% to £2.2bn.

The firm, which was originally spun out of Anglian Water for £135m in 2008 as Morrison Utility Services, delivered strong growth in its target water, energy, highways and telecoms sectors.

It now boasts a client list in prized regulated markets for Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water, National Grid, Network Rail, Heathrow Airport, EON, British Gas, EDF, Openreach and Virgin Media.

Strong trading saw EBITDA before exceptionals climb to £120m in the year to April 2024 (2023: £105m). This saw a group-wide operating margin of around 5.9%.

Part of this year’s growth was driven by the acquisition of decarbonisation specialist Agility Eco for £59m in late December 2023.

Much of M Group’s growth in recent years has been driven by a series of private equity owners.

Since a management team backed by private investors bought Morrison Utility Services from Anglian Water it has passed through three private equity owners.

The most recent ownership change to CVC Capital Partners was signed off in September in a deal rumoured to be worth around £1bn.

At year-end, M Group’s order book stood at £6.4bn(2023: £6.9bn) representing 80% of this year’s 2025 turnover. M Group had cash and cash equivalents of £105m (2023: £111m).

It now employs over 11,500 staff from over 235 locations across the UK and Ireland.

Chief executive officer Andrew Findlay said: “The resilient sectors in which we operate, the nature of the essential services that we provide to critical national infrastructure, our strong long-term order book with blue-chip clients provide a solid platform to further develop the group.

“In addition, we continue to seek strategic acquisitions to augment our existing organic opportunities, add deeper capabilities to the group, and expand our addressable markets.”

 

Latest news

Take That brother buys steelwork giant William Hare

Entrepreneur Simon Orange seals deal for £350m turnover contractor
13 hours ago

New boss drives NG Bailey to record revenue

Fresh strategy lifts M&E group's order book to £1.6bn
7 hours ago

New £16bn National Housing Bank to drive 500k new builds

Homes England given new powers to finance stalled and complex schemes
6 hours ago

Morgan Sindall upgrades profits forecast for this year

Overbury fitout and construction operations exceed trading expectations
22 hours ago

Major project bidders to face ‘British jobs’ test

Contractors to face tougher jobs pledge scrutiny under new procurement shake-up
2 days ago

Green light for £32m Wythenshawe Culture Hub

Construction to start this year on first phase of £500m town centre revamp
23 hours ago

Hercules delivers record first half as HS2 fuels growth

Labour supply specialist says HS2 demand climbing with 630 workers now deployed
22 hours ago

Private equity firm acquires Hepworth Clay pipes business

Historic UK drainage manufacturer sold by Wavin
22 hours ago

Balfour Beatty names new Scottish MD

Nick Rowan to take reins as Hector MacAulay to retire after 40 years
2 days ago

£500m rail deal locks in future for Scunthorpe steelworks

Government-backed deal with Network Rail safeguards UK production
21 hours ago

Morrison rides in for £19m mountain bike R&D hub

Flagship Borders cycling R&D hub set for Caerlee Mill site
2 days ago

Revised plan submitted for Manchester landmark towers

400 more flats added to Albert Bridge House scheme
2 days ago

Job losses loom at consultant GHD

Redundancy consultation underway with jobs at risk
2 days ago

Knight Harwood lifts margin to 4.9% as profit hits £6.5m

London specialist sees strong office and luxury resi pipeline
2 days ago

Hampshire launches £150m minor works reboot

General builders, M&E and roofing firms invited to apply
2 days ago

Winners named for £2.6bn NHS SBS Modular 3 framework

Twenty-seven secure spots on health, education and resi framework
5 days ago

Leeds kicks off homes vision for Elland Road regeneration

Council plans to deliver 2,000 homes around United’s revamped stadium
5 days ago

Former Mace deputy chairman Mark Holmes awarded CBE

King's Birthday Honours spotlights industry's architecture and environment achievements
2 days ago

Britcon targets £70m turnover after string of framework wins

Major AMP8 win and regional expansion fuel contractor’s biggest growth push yet
5 days ago

Go-ahead for 37-storey tower at Leeds Merrion Centre

Town Centre Securities to deliver over 1,000 student rooms
5 days ago

Taylor Wimpey fined £800k after apprentice falls down stairwell

Teenage brickie injured after falling with pile of concrete blocks
6 days ago

Green light for life sciences buildings in campus expansion

Construction to start this year on Wellcome Genome Campus in South Cambridgeshire
5 days ago

Morgan Sindall scores £63m twin wins on flagship leisure projects

£36m Southampton and £27m Bishop Auckland jobs get underway
5 days ago

Hill and L&G partner on £450m Coventry city centre revamp

Partners to deliver opening phase of 991-home City Centre South scheme
6 days ago

Graham snaps up sector veteran to lead office fit-outs

Peter Allan most recently held director roles at ISG and Overbury
5 days ago

Construction growth of 0.9% bucks wider shrinking economy

Construction output climbs for third straight month
6 days ago

Crest Nicholson returns to profit

House builder back in the black after huge fire safety provisions last year
6 days ago

JN Bentley profit surges as revenue tops £500m

Surging water work and plant investment underpin £19m profit
6 days ago

Willmott Dixon bags £49m East London business school job

Builder secures second job in a year for Queen Mary University
6 days ago

Another extension for competition probe into house builders

Spotlight will stay on seven housing giants for another few months
7 days ago

Contractor services