黑洞社区

Skanska wants to expand its UK infrastructure business over the next five years to capitalise on the slew of planned investment in rail, roads, gas and water projects.

Mike Putnam, Skanska UK鈥檚 president and chief executive, told 黑洞社区 the firm鈥檚 infrastructure division will gear up to target mega projects like HS2 and more work with water and gas companies.

He said: 鈥淲e see very strong opportunities in the infrastructure sector. Politically there鈥檚 a big focus on infrastructure and there鈥檚 support across all political parties.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not just infrastructure for government - we expect increased spending in the regulated sectors, like water and gas.鈥�

Putnam鈥檚 comments come after Skanska UK鈥檚 construction business posted solid results last week for the 2015 calendar year, but a dip in its profit margin below 3% to 2.4%.

According to its Swedish parent company鈥檚 group results, Skanska UK鈥檚 construction business posted a 2% drop in operating profit to 拢36.3m, down from 拢37.2m, while revenue jumped 21% to 拢1.5bn, up from 拢1.2bn.

We expect increased spending in the regulated sectors, like water and gas

Mike Putnam, Skanska UK

Putnam said the UK construction business 鈥渃learly wants to drive up鈥� profit, adding that the parent company鈥檚 target is for a 3.5% margin across its construction businesses, although he said the group realised this would be a 鈥渟truggle鈥� in the UK.

He said Skanska UK鈥檚 profit figures 鈥渃ompared well鈥� with its competitors, many of which have posted slimmer margins or losses in recent months.

Skanska UK is embarking on a new five-year strategy this year, running to 2020, which will focus on earlier involvement with clients, the digital economy and social as well as business goals.

By the end of 2015, Skanska UK was using level-two BIM on all its projects.

Overall the Skanska group posted an increase in revenue and operating profit for 2015, with revenue up 7% to 153bn SEK (拢12.5bn), up from 143.3bn SEK (拢11.7bn), while operating profit increased 17% to 6.3bnSEK (拢514.5m), up from 5.4bn SEK (拢442.4m).

Skanska UK began work on a number of major projects last year, including the 拢140m new Papworth hospital in Cambridge and three AMP6 projects for Thames Water, Anglian Water and Welsh Water worth a combined 拢454m.

The firm completed major jobs including 拢118m London office development One and Two New Ludgate for Land Securities, a 拢34m extension to Thameside prison, and seven new schools in Bristol.