Northern Ireland-based contractor blames knock-on effects of ‘major contractor collapse’ and failure of a JV partner
Graham Group, the privately-owned Northern Ireland-based contractor, has reported an 18% dip in annual pre-tax profit.
It is the second year in a row the firm has posted a decrease in its profit.
Despite reporting a 36% hike in turnover – to £768m – for the year to the end of March 2018 the firm said margins had been hit by what it called “the knock-on effects of a major contractor collapse”, thought to be Carillion, and the collapse into administration of an unnamed joint venture partner.
Graham Group had been in a joint venture with Lagan Construction Group, working on a £100m project to redevelop Green Port Hull for Associated British Ports. Lagan Construction Group was one of four Lagan-related companies which went into administration in February this year.
Despite the profit dip the firm’s executive chairman Michael Graham (pictured) said it was “at a level that the board is happy with following a year of extraordinary investment in the business” and what he called “issues in the wider industry”.
Recent projects completed include a £113m student accommodation scheme for York University, while the group has been appointed to a number of frameworks including the Department for Work & Pensions and the £750m Clyde Commercial Framework.
The group employs around 2,000 staff operating from 17 offices across the UK and Ireland. It opened offices in Leeds and Liverpool during the year.
No comments yet