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Speaking after the firm unveiled results for the six months to 30 June 2010 (below), Miller said the company planned to do more work at the front end of contracts and did not 鈥渟ee itself as a Bob the Builder鈥�.

He said: 鈥淥ne of the things about the construction business is that 拢18m will be spent building something but 拢18m will be spent beforehand.鈥�

Asked whether the company was on the hunt for a consultancy, he said: 鈥淲e could consider it as we could consider a lot of things,鈥� adding that Miller was 鈥渙ne of the few companies with an enviable track record of buying and selling businesses over the past 15 years鈥�.

Chris Webster took over as chief executive of Miller Construction this week. He joined from infrastructure specialist Amey where he was chief operating officer. Miller said Webster鈥檚 appointment signalled the company鈥檚 desire to broaden its strategy.

In relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review in October, Miller said: 鈥淭he threats are clearly there but we have a strong balance sheet and the impact will hopefully be less than on some others. We鈥檙e pressing hard on government so they don鈥檛 cut infrastructure.鈥�

Speaking about Miller鈥檚 housebuilding arm, which contributed 拢162m of the group鈥檚 拢338m turnover, Miller said it was too early to say whether weak summer trading would turn into a double-dip recession.

Lloyds Banking Group has a 20% stake in Miller. It recently disposed of its shares in Crest Nicholson, but Miller said: 鈥淚 think that was a one-off deal as it had quite a complicated banking structure.鈥�