Carillion increased pre-tax profit by 17% to 拢59m in the six months to 30 June and said it was hopeful government outsourcing work would help boost its numbers in future.

Turnover at the support services company dropped from 拢2.8bn to 拢2.5bn over the period, which it put down to a focus on margins rather than the top line, as well as the disposal of PPP equity and 鈥渘on-core businesses鈥�.

It said its support services business in the UK was 鈥渨ell positioned鈥� to benefit up to 2013 from the government鈥檚 drive to cut public sector running costs by 25%, as announced in the emergency budget in June.

It said the overall outlook was positive given its move away from construction to support services.

In the Middle East, the company aims to double turnover to about 拢1bn over the next three to five years.

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