黑洞社区

Regional contractor RG Carter saw its biggest business sink into the red last year as the effects of the pandemic took an axe to its numbers.

The Norwich-based firm, which is celebrating its centenary this year, said income from its construction division was down 26% to 拢223m with the business racking up a 拢4.6m pre-tax loss from a 拢500,000 profit last time.

Its building services arm, Drayton 黑洞社区 Services, saw turnover stay flat at 拢30.2m but this division also slumped into the red with a 拢600,000 pre-tax loss from a 拢300,000 profit last time.

Its developments business stayed in the black although the 拢600,000 pre-tax profit was down from the 拢2.6m in 2019 while its technical services arm posted a pre-tax profit of 拢143,000 from a pre-tax loss of 拢400,000 the year before.

Overall, the group said it remained in the black last year but profit plunged to 拢719,000 from 拢4.3m last time.

The firm said profit from its continuing operations was 拢2.5m compared to 拢5.5m in 2019 with losses from unnamed discontinued operations jumping to 拢1.8m from 拢1.2m.

Turnover from continuing business was down 24% to 拢234m with statutory group revenue slipping 26% to 拢235m.

The accounts, which were signed off at the end of July, said the firm claimed 拢2.9m from the government鈥檚 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which came to a finish last week.

It was also handed an interim payment of 拢2.5m from an insurance policy that it said 鈥減rovides cover for business interruption losses caused by the pandemic鈥�. It added: 鈥淎 claim has been lodged with our insurers and discussions continue.鈥�

The average number of staff employed last year fell 14% to 924.

The firm said it had 拢60.7m of cash in hand at the end of June this year.