Social housing contractor Connaught has appointed Sir Roy Gardner as non-executive chairman.

The firm has been seeking to restructure the business with founder Mark Tincknell taking over as chief executive in February.

He has since conducted a review of its major contracts designed to re-focus the business on larger, long-term opportunities.

Pre-tax profit at the firm fell 13% to 拢10.7m in the six months to the end of February as it was hit by 拢10m of restructuring and acquisition costs.

However, turnover at the group, which refurbishes and maintains social housing, rose 17% to 拢355m on the same period last year, and profit before exceptional costs was up by a fifth to 拢20.7m.

Gardner, who is 65, is currently chairman of Compass Group.