John Sisk aims for 拢300m turnover

By Andrew Hankinson and Andrew Hankinson Andrew Hankinson2010-05-14T00:00:00+01:00

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John Sisk & Son plans to almost double turnover to more than 拢300m this year after bagging 拢200m of work in the last six months of 2009

As part of the plan, it has drafted in 50 staff from Sisk, its Irish parent company, to help it win work. Many have been part of teams that have won big contracts such as the 拢120m redevelopment of Croke Park, the Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Dublin.

The predicted turnover of 拢300m is a huge increase from 2009 (拢161m) and 2008 (拢226m). The firm declined to predict pre-tax profit for 2010; this was 拢1.5m in 2009 (2008: 拢2.5m).

Paul Wilson, John Sisk鈥檚 managing director, explained the predicted turnover jump. 鈥淭he market we were operating in before the credit crunch 鈥� commercial, industrial, distribution 鈥� pretty much stopped overnight in 2008. The only bit that held up was hotels. So in 2009 we invested in major projects and civils and picked up some big contracts (see below).

鈥淎lthough we started work on a lot of that in 2009, the bulk of the turnover is starting to come in this year. It could actually be well over 拢300m. Though don鈥檛 forget we鈥檝e had 拢230-250m for a few years and then the significant drop in 2008. The target for 2013 is more than 拢500m.鈥�

Wilson said bringing in staff from the Irish parent company on a permanent basis had taken UK levels to 400 and he insisted it was their expertise, rather than cheap bids, which brought the firm work.

He said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 about establishing a structure and bringing in additional resources, but also about creating a centre of excellence. We know that we were not the lowest bidders on one of the projects we won recently, and that was against a big 10 firm. We won it on the back of a reference from another business we were working with.鈥�