But practice says shift to employee ownership trust hit profits for 2017-18 

AHMM's Weston Street apartment complex in Bermondsey which was a 2018 RIBA National Award winner

Source: Tom Rothery

AHMM鈥檚 Weston Street apartment complex in Bermondsey, which was a 2018 RIBA National Award winner

AHMM saw a 13% growth in turnover in the 12 months to April but pre-tax profit at the practice slipped markedly as the firm paid out more in profit share.

The firm, which is ranked No 53 on said turnover for 2017-18 was 拢38.7m but pre-tax profit plunged from 拢3.8m to 拢907,780.

AHMM said the downward shift in profit reflected 鈥渁 number of factors鈥 including a larger pool of staff eligible for profit share, share purchase and other obligations relating to the transfer of 60% of the practice to an employee ownership trust in September 2017.

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The practice said other factors included investment in premises and related facilities 鈥 such as the reconfiguration of its model shop 鈥 in anticipation of a continued period of growth.

Gross profit at the practice grew 9% to 拢19m, however its gross margin was down from 51.1% to 49.1%.

AHMM's reinvention of the former BBC Television Centre in west London

Source: Tim Soar

AHMM鈥檚 reinvention of the former BBC Television Centre in west London, which completed in 2017-18

In its group strategic report, signed off by directors Nigel Harris and Paul Monaghan, AHMM said the move to becoming an employee ownership trust marked the 鈥渇irst steps鈥 to increasing levels of staff engagement across the business.

AHMM made a non-committal reference to 鈥渦ncertainties arising from Brexit鈥 without suggesting how questions over the UK鈥檚 future relationship with the European Union could affect the practice.

鈥淚t is clear that the precise outcome of the current negotiation process between the UK government and the EU is some way from being clear,鈥 it said.

鈥淚n the meantime, the board believes the best it can do is to maintain business as usual, delivering excellent work in a professional manner for its clients, while keeping a watchful eye on events around the world.鈥

The report said AHMM鈥檚 headcount had risen by 9% on a full-time-equivalent basis in the year to April, and that there were 403 staff on the firm鈥檚 payroll at the close of the accounting period.