Builder Kier Group said yesterday its buoyant Scottish business helped to deliver a “good” set of results in an improving economy in the second half of 2014.
The company has steadily grown its presence north of the border in recent years, thanks to a series of takeovers.
It now plans to open a regional office in Inverness to secure a bigger share of the north and north-east construction market.
Brian McQuade, managing director of the Scotland and north-east England arm of Kier’s construction division, said: “It has been a busy period for Kier Construction in Scotland.
“Significant positions on key frameworks, a disciplined approach to winning new work and an improving market positions us well for the remainder of 2015.
“We are particularly pleased to have broken into the health and defence sectors over the past few months.”
He added: “We have increased our core staff by almost 25% over the last year and we are still recruiting. All in all it’s a positive time for Kier and for the local communities where we are working to create jobs, improve the infrastructure and bolster the local economy.”
Kier was recently appointed by Highland Council to build the new Caol primary school and community centre, near Fort William. The project is worth in the region of £10million.
In the Aberdeen area, the company is currently working on several large build projects.
These include infrastructure works worth £6million for The Core business park in Bridge of Don, a £6million project to build the UK’s largest science and technology school at Robert Gordon’s College, a £5million homeless and supported accommodation centre for Aberdeen City Council and a £9.5million extension to the Robert Gordon University campus at Garthdee.
Bedfordshire-based Kier posted first half pre-tax profits of £35.2million, down from £36.8million a year earlier, with underlying operating profits flat at £44.4million. Revenue was up by 11% at £1.6billion.
Chief executive, Haydn Mursell said: “With improving economic conditions, notwithstanding pressures in the supply chain, our robust execution skills and delivery and disciplined approach to bidding and risk management continue to deliver good results.”