OPTIMISM
Kier, the construction group behind the restoration of the fire-damaged Glasgow School of Art, has hailed its “exciting” workload north of the Border as it revealed higher annual profits.
The firm, which employs about 200 people at its Kier Construction Scotland division, has landed a raft of deals spanning social housing, healthcare and the education sector, where it is working on the £43 million William Mcilvanney Campus in Kilmarnock and the £35m redevelopment of Marr College in Troon.
“Education remains an important sector for us and we are currently developing the design and build requirements for the new £25m Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr,” said Brian Mcquade, MD of Kier Construction Scotland.
He added: “We have also strengthened our healthcare portfolio with a number of recent wins, including work with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde at Stobhill Hospital, NHS Highland at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and we have been appointed principal supply chain partner at Gold-
0 The group is working on sectors such as education and healthcare
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Mcquade’s comments came as Kier, which has offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness, said its underlying pretax profits rose 8 per cent to £126m for the year to 30 June, on revenues 5 per cent higher at almost £4.3 billion. The group’s annual turnover in Scotland stands at more than £150m. On a statutory basis, the group returned to the black with a profit of £26m, compared with a £35m loss a year earlier.
“Kier Construction Scotland is also working on an exciting range of heritage projects, restoring some of the country’s most important landmarks for future generations to enjoy,” Mcquade added.
As well as its “intricate restoration” of the world-renowned Mackintosh Building for Glasgow School of Art, which has seen Kier recently complete work on a new roof, the firm is involved in restoring Edinburgh College of Art’s sandstone building off Lauriston Place, along with another A-listed project, Aberdeen’s
“The merits of Kier’s integrated model will show through after a period of transition… so investors should expect annual doubledigit earnings growth.”