Specialist contractor posts reduced half-year loss

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Fit-out specialist Styles & Wood has posted a reduced pre-tax loss of 拢463,000 for the first half of 2015 - and has predicted a revival in the fit-out market to pre-crash levels by 2017.

The first-half loss compared to a 拢1.2m pre-tax loss over the first half of 2014. Over 2014 as a whole Styles & Wood posted a 拢579,000 pre-tax profit.

Styles & Wood said that without exceptional finance and interest costs totalling 拢672,000 incurred over the first six months of 2015, the firm would have made a 拢209,000 pre-tax profit for the period.

First-half revenue jumped 37% to 拢46.2m, up from 拢33.6m the previous year. The order book at week 33 was 10% ahead of last year, standing at 拢66.1m.

Chief executive Tony Lenehan said the firm had been boosted by the successful completion of a refinancing in June 2015.

Styles & Wood said there was increasing demand for interior refurbishment and fit-out due to 鈥渃ontinued restraint in new build development activity鈥� and forecast 4-5% growth per year over the next three to four years. 

Styles & Wood said it expected recovery of the refurbishment and fit-out markets to 2008 levels by 2017.

Demand for fit-out and refurbishment was particularly high in the banking, higher education, commercial office and retail sectors. The firm said it had secured new contracts for restaurant fit-outs in the Lowry Centre in Manchester and the Burj Al Arab Hotel (pictured) in Dubai

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