Profits sharply up at Kier

Kier Construction Scotland has reported a “solid” return for the six months to December 31.

The unit – part of the wider Kier Group plc – generates annual revenues in excess of £150 million and employs more than 200 staff.

It is currently involved in a number of major infrastructure works in Scotland and is leading the £25m restoration of the Glasgow School of Art, designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s fire-damaged masterpiece.

The wider Kier group generated flat revenues of £2 billion in the second half of 2016.

Statutory pre-tax profits jumped from £4.3m in 2015 to £34.9m last year.