Kier Group booming thanks to big projects in region

KIER Group, the property, residential, construction and services company – which employs more than 1,000 people across the North West is celebrating soaring revenue and profits.

The group’s activities in the region have contributed to a 14% increase in turnover to £3.4bn (2014: £2.9bn) and underlying pre-tax profits have gone up 17% to £85.9m (2014: £73.7m).

In its preliminary results for the year ending June 30, Kier, which has offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Oldham and Wigan, said its range of projects in the North West had contributed to very strong results.

These include recently securing a contract, worth up to £475m, to turn the M6 between junctions 16s and 19 into a smart motorway in a joint venture with Carillion.
 
It is also one of the construction partners on the £450m Mersey Gateway project, which involves the construction of a six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey, linking Runcorn and Widnes.

Kier is also on site delivering the new £24.9m interchange in Bolton for Transport for Greater Manchester, and the £20m Mental Health Unit for the Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust.
 
In addition, it was recently awarded contracts worth £3.6m for the extension of the St Cleopas and Christ the King primary schools, as part of the first phase of Liverpool City Council’s primary school expansion programme.
 
This is the latest in a series of projects Kier has delivered in Liverpool through the Scape Minor Works Framework, with contracts awarded worth £12m. It is also preferred bidder for the £5.5m project to refurbish and extend the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

Earlier this year the business completed its acquisition of Mouchel, making Kier the sector leader in the growing UK highways management and maintenance market.

Kier Group chief executive Haydn Mursell said: “I am pleased to announce that we have delivered solid growth and increased profitability. Economic confidence is returning to our core markets and, furthermore, the acquisition of Mouchel represents a major step in accelerating the Group’s five-year strategy.
 
“All of our divisions have performed well.We continue to simplify the portfolio and restructure our businesses and invest in our future growth.
“ With a £9.3bn order book, a strong balance sheet and continued progress on our Vision 2020 goals this year, we look forward to the future with confidence.”