Record results for Yorkshire construction firm

YORKSHIRE construction firm Hobson & Porter will announce record turnover this year.

The Hull-based business, founded in 1971, is set to see turnover reach £35m, more than 50% higher than two years ago.

Managing director Graham Beal said the firm has been lucky to ride out the recession, and said since coming out of it, has become an even stronger business.

“It’s an exciting time for the business and now, going forward, we will continue to focus on growth, but steady growth,” Beal said. “We’ve grown quite a lot in the last two to three years and although we will continue to develop, it will now be more consolidated growth.

“We will be investing in our people, too.”

Key clients include global producer of floral bouquets for retailers JZ Flowers, Smith & Nephew and the local authorities. Recent contract wins include working with Dong Energy on its Immingham offices and warehouse site as well as £1m worth of work at Beverley Leisure Centre.

Hobson & Porter, which employs a team of 120, was founded by chairman Peter Hobson and his then business partner, Bernie Porter. Beal said one of the reasons for the firm’s success comes down to repeat business.

“80% to 90% of our business is repeat business,” he said. “And Peter has always run the business astutely.”

The next phase for business growth is to look outside the sphere of Hull.

Although working on projects in Wakefield, Halifax, Rotherham and Lincoln, Beal said the majority of the firm’s work is in East Yorkshire, so moving forward, it is keen to build relationships further afield.

“To maintain this level of turnover we’ve got to spread our wings. We’re trying to build our relationships outside Hull,” Beal said.

“However, apart from our work on the South Bank, we will stick in Yorkshire for the foreseeable future. We don’t want to get too big too quickly.”

The firm has recently employed another six trainee site managers and has five trainees working in the office.