Styles signals slow start

FIT-OUT contractor Styles & Wood has experienced a “slow” start to 2012, but still expects its first-half results to be in line with management expectations.

In a trading update, the Altrincham-based company said that it “maintains strong relationships with key customers in the Banking sector and has good visibility of framework allocations which continue to be heavily weighted to the second half of the year”.

The firm, which has diversified from retail into work or financial services, public sector and general commercial office clients in recent years, said that it had “converted further tender opportunities” in these newer areas, but said the market for retail fit-out firms remains tough.