Top 100 Construction Companies 2023
“Turnover is vanity but profit is sanity” is an old stock market adage and at a glance the latest Top 100 shows an industry focused on the bottom line.
Altogether, this year’s Top 100 construction companies turned over £74.5bn in their latest accounts – up by 12.6% on the previous financial year – but profitability surged at a far higher rate as companies emerged from the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those same 100 companies virtually doubled their aggregate pre-tax profits to just over £2bn according to the latest available accounts at Companies House as of July 31st, 2023.
At a superficial level that performance, together with a doubling of the number of construction people appearing in the Sunday Times annual Rich List, suggests an industry in fine fettle as the wider economy sags under pressure from a cost of living crisis and rising interest rates.
The construction industry’s leading players should therefore be in decent shape. But if you dig a bit deeper the picture is far more complex and less positive. While 84 companies in the Top 100 increased turnover and 87 of them made a pre-tax profit in their latest trading year (up from 83 in the previous period) the size of that bottom-line profit figure reduced at 54 of those companies.
| Latest Rank By Turnover | Latest Rank By Profit | Company | Reporting Period | Latest Turnover (£m) | Previous Turnover (£m) | Change (%) | Latest Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Previous Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Latest Margin | Previous Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Balfour Beatty | Dec-22 | 7,629.00 | 7,185.00 | 6.2 | 287 | 87 | 3.8 | 1.2 |
| 2 | 3 | Morgan Sindall Group | Dec-22 | 3,612.20 | 3,212.80 | 12.4 | 85.3 | 126.2 | 2.4 | 3.9 |
| 3 | 38 | Kier Group* | Jun-22 | 3,143.90 | 3,261.00 | -3.6 | 15.9 | 5.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 4 | 8 | Keller Group | Dec-22 | 2,994.60 | 2,222.50 | 34.7 | 56.3 | 67.5 | 1.9 | 3 |
| 5 | 4 | Amey UK* | Dec-21 | 2,328.30 | 2,074.90 | 12.2 | 82 | -10.6 | 3.5 | -0.5 |
| 6 | 49 | ISG | Dec-22 | 2,185.10 | 2,263.70 | -3.5 | 11.5 | 18.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 7 | 2 | Tarmac Trading | Dec-21 | 2,136.20 | 1,828.70 | 16.8 | 263.1 | -129.8 | 12.3 | -7.1 |
| 8 | 15 | Mace | Dec-22 | 1,936.50 | 1,933.00 | 0.2 | 36.5 | 38.3 | 1.9 | 2 |
| 9 | 85 | M Group Services | Mar-23 | 1,864.60 | 1,545.30 | 20.7 | 1.3 | 31.3 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 10 | 37 | Laing O'Rourke | Mar-22 | 1,807.30 | 1,638.10 | 10.3 | 16.2 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| 11 | 18 | Wates Group | Dec-22 | 1,786.90 | 1,522.30 | 17.4 | 31.5 | 31.2 | 1.8 | 2 |
| 12 | 12 | J Murphy & Sons | Dec-22 | 1,491.00 | 1,274.00 | 17 | 44.6 | 61.7 | 3 | 4.8 |
| 13 | 17 | Costain Group | Dec-22 | 1,421.40 | 1,135.20 | 25.2 | 32.8 | -13.3 | 2.3 | -1.2 |
| 14 | 9 | Skanska UK | Dec-22 | 1,400.20 | 1,122.70 | 24.7 | 55 | 34.7 | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| 15 | 72 | Galliford Try | Jun-22 | 1,237.20 | 1,124.80 | 10 | 5.4 | 11.4 | 0.4 | 1 |
| 16 | 54 | Winvic Group | Jan-23 | 1,217.40 | 1,029.20 | 18.3 | 10.5 | 15.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| 17 | 26 | VINCI Construction UK | Dec-21 | 1,166.30 | 849.2 | 37.3 | 23.6 | 12.5 | 2 | 1.5 |
| 18 | 21 | VolkerWessels UK | Dec-21 | 1,151.90 | 1,082.20 | 6.4 | 27.1 | -6.4 | 2.4 | -0.6 |
| 19 | 94 | Willmott Dixon Holdings | Dec-22 | 1,147.20 | 1,101.50 | 4.2 | -8.7 | 11.2 | -0.8 | 1 |
| 20 | 5 | Bowmer & Kirkland | Aug-22 | 1,146.50 | 1,178.10 | -2.7 | 63.1 | 65.3 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 21 | 41 | John Graham Holdings | Mar-23 | 1,093.70 | 948.3 | 15.3 | 15.1 | 19 | 1.4 | 2 |
| 22 | 57 | Sir Robert McAlpine | Oct-22 | 1,086.90 | 937.2 | 16 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 0.9 | 1 |
| 23 | 23 | BAM Nuttall | Dec-21 | 1,073.30 | 843.9 | 27.2 | 26.2 | 11.6 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| 24 | 16 | Mears Group* | Dec-22 | 959.6 | 878.4 | 9.2 | 34.9 | 16.3 | 3.6 | 1.9 |
| 25 | 30 | BAM Construct UK* | Dec-21 | 918.6 | 793.1 | 15.8 | 20.4 | 13.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
| 26 | 6 | Equans Regeneration | Dec-21 | 869.8 | 622.6 | 39.7 | 62.6 | -78.8 | 7.2 | -12.7 |
| 27 | 10 | Renew Holdings* | Sep-22 | 816.3 | 775.6 | 5.2 | 49.5 | 40.8 | 6.1 | 5.3 |
| 28 | 46 | JRL Group Holdings | Dec-22 | 761.3 | 610 | 24.8 | 13.3 | 26.8 | 1.7 | 4.4 |
| 29 | 82 | McLaren Construction Group | Jul-22 | 751.7 | 541 | 38.9 | 2 | -12.4 | 0.3 | -2.3 |
| 30 | 95 | Buckingham Group Contracting | Dec-21 | 665.3 | 584.5 | 13.8 | -10.7 | 8.6 | -1.6 | 1.5 |
| 31 | 22 | Eurovia UK ^ | Dec-21 | 632 | 592 | 6.8 | 26.9 | 21.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 |
| 32 | 29 | Robertson Group (Holdings) | Jun-22 | 615.6 | 588.3 | 4.6 | 20.5 | 16.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| 33 | 51 | Multiplex Construction Europe | Dec-22 | 561.9 | 793 | -29.1 | 11.1 | 2.6 | 2 | 0.3 |
| 34 | 75 | ESSCI | Dec-21 | 561.9 | 443.1 | 26.8 | 3.3 | -27.2 | 0.6 | -6.1 |
| 35 | 32 | Lendlease Construction (Europe) | Jun-22 | 553.5 | 554.5 | -0.2 | 18.9 | 20 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| 36 | 76 | Keltbray Group | Oct-22 | 527.9 | 389.5 | 35.5 | 3.2 | -4.2 | 0.6 | -1.1 |
| 37 | 78 | NG Bailey Group | Feb-22 | 499.5 | 507 | -1.5 | 3 | -4.4 | 0.6 | -0.9 |
| 38 | 100 | Ferrovial Construction (UK) | Dec-22 | 493.2 | 456.3 | 8.1 | -30.1 | 5.4 | -6.1 | 1.2 |
| 39 | 20 | Severfield | Mar-23 | 491.8 | 403.6 | 21.9 | 27.1 | 21 | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| 40 | 7 | Caddick Group | Aug-22 | 491.6 | 383.7 | 28.1 | 58 | 17.1 | 11.8 | 4.5 |
| 41 | 86 | Bouygues (U.K.) | Dec-21 | 483.6 | 420.3 | 15.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 42 | 36 | FM Conway | Mar-22 | 478.1 | 338.2 | 41.4 | 17.2 | 19.8 | 3.6 | 5.9 |
| 43 | 65 | Northstone (NI) | Dec-21 | 472 | 362.5 | 30.2 | 7.1 | -6.9 | 1.5 | -1.9 |
| 44 | 64 | McLaughlin & Harvey 1 | Jun-22 | 469.1 | 272.3 | 72.3 | 7.2 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 1 |
| 45 | 67 | TSL | Dec-22 | 455.3 | 548 | -16.9 | 6.8 | 10 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| 46 | 61 | Tilbury Douglas Construction | Dec-21 | 446.9 | 372.3 | 20 | 8.3 | 15.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 |
| 47 | 97 | United Living Holdings | Mar-22 | 436.5 | 361.3 | 20.8 | -20.9 | -21.1 | -4.8 | -5.9 |
| 48 | 55 | TClarke | Dec-22 | 426 | 327.1 | 30.2 | 10.3 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| 49 | 87 | Glencar Construction | Sep-22 | 417.8 | 160.4 | 160.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 1.4 |
| Latest Rank By Turnover | Latest Rank By Profit | Company | Reporting Period | Latest Turnover (£m) | Previous Turnover (£m) | Change (%) | Latest Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Previous Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Latest Margin | Previous Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 79 | Ardmore Construction Ltd | Sep-22 | 415.4 | 403.6 | 2.8 | 12.6 | 0.7 | 3.1 | |
| 51 | 27 | M.V. Kelly | May-22 | 407.5 | 321.6 | 26.7 | 23 | 23.4 | 5.6 | 7.3 |
| 52 | 34 | Watkin Jones* | Sep-22 | 407.1 | 430.2 | -5.4 | 18.4 | 51.1 | 4.5 | 11.9 |
| 53 | 47 | McAleer & Rushe Contracts UK | Dec-22 | 404.3 | 400.5 | 1 | 12.1 | 15 | 3 | 3.7 |
| 54 | 14 | FP McCann Group | Dec-22 | 387.6 | 342.1 | 13.3 | 38.3 | 34 | 9.9 | 10 |
| 55 | 25 | Emcor Group (UK) | Dec-22 | 385 | 371.2 | 3.7 | 23.9 | 20.2 | 6.2 | 5.5 |
| 56 | 13 | Araglin Holdings (Carey Group) | Sep-22 | 366.3 | 346.9 | 5.6 | 42.8 | 16.1 | 11.7 | 4.6 |
| 57 | 89 | GMI Construction Group | Sep-22 | 360.3 | 120.7 | 198.4 | -2.3 | 1 | -0.7 | 0.8 |
| 58 | 90 | John Sisk & Son | Dec-22 | 350.7 | 382.9 | -8.4 | -2.5 | 8.4 | -0.7 | 2.2 |
| 59 | 31 | OHOB Holdings | Mar-23 | 348.3 | 292.9 | 18.9 | 20.3 | 21.6 | 5.8 | 7.4 |
| 60 | 71 | Readie Construction | Mar-22 | 345 | 178.8 | 93 | 5.5 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| 61 | 11 | Henry Boot | Dec-22 | 341.4 | 230.6 | 48.1 | 45.6 | 35.1 | 13.4 | 15.2 |
| 62 | 40 | HG Construction | Dec-22 | 335.7 | 242.3 | 38.6 | 15.3 | 24.9 | 4.6 | 10.3 |
| 63 | 28 | Ogilvie Group | Jun-22 | 331.8 | 318.7 | 4.1 | 22.9 | 10.2 | 6.9 | 3.2 |
| 64 | 81 | Geoffrey Osborne 2 | Sep-21 | 325.8 | 551.2 | -40.9 | 2 | -13.8 | 0.6 | -2.5 |
| 65 | 98 | Integral UK | Dec-21 | 310.6 | 288.3 | 7.7 | -21.6 | -20.6 | -6.9 | -7.1 |
| 66 | 52 | Clancy Group Holdings | Apr-22 | 293 | 255.2 | 14.8 | 10.6 | 11.1 | 3.6 | 4.3 |
| 67 | 99 | Enerveo (SSE Contracting) | Mar-22 | 278.9 | 246.7 | 13.1 | -26.8 | -22.6 | -9.6 | -9.2 |
| 68 | 39 | Sureserve Group* | Sep-22 | 275.1 | 216.6 | 27 | 15.6 | 11.1 | 5.7 | 5.1 |
| 69 | 68 | J.N. Bentley | Dec-22 | 263.5 | 227.9 | 15.6 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.4 |
| 70 | 44 | RG Carter Holdings | Dec-21 | 262.4 | 235.2 | 11.6 | 13.4 | 0.7 | 5.1 | 0.3 |
| 71 | 77 | Esh Holdings | Dec-21 | 254.9 | 222.6 | 14.5 | 3 | -5.9 | 1.2 | -2.6 |
| 72 | 88 | William Hare Group | Dec-21 | 239.5 | 191.7 | 25 | -2.2 | 2.4 | -0.9 | 1.3 |
| 73 | 73 | Cruden Holdings | Mar-22 | 231 | 186.7 | 23.7 | 4.9 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| 74 | 84 | Briggs & Forrester Group | Oct-22 | 229.2 | 234.2 | -2.1 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 75 | 56 | Mick George | Sep-22 | 227.5 | 193.6 | 17.5 | 9.8 | 12.9 | 4.3 | 6.7 |
| 76 | 35 | CCG (Scotland) | Mar-22 | 225.7 | 167.9 | 34.4 | 18 | 15.7 | 8 | 9.4 |
| 77 | 59 | Seddon Group | Dec-21 | 225.3 | 206 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 7 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| 78 | 19 | HW Martin Holdings | Jul-22 | 223.7 | 199.6 | 12.1 | 29.3 | 25 | 13.1 | 12.5 |
| 79 | 48 | Gilbert-Ash | Dec-21 | 219.3 | 176.2 | 24.5 | 12 | 10.7 | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| 80 | 91 | Structuretone International | Dec-21 | 217.1 | 219.7 | -1.2 | -3.3 | -8.1 | -1.5 | -3.7 |
| 81 | 62 | Colas | Dec-21 | 212.3 | 229.8 | -7.6 | 7.9 | -2.8 | 3.7 | -1.2 |
| 82 | 33 | RJ McLeod (Contractors) | Oct-22 | 210.3 | 192.3 | 9.3 | 18.6 | 25 | 8.8 | 13 |
| 83 | 92 | Higgins Group | Jul-22 | 210.3 | 151.1 | 39.1 | -5.4 | 0.2 | -2.6 | 0.1 |
| 84 | 96 | Erith Holdings | Sep-22 | 208.3 | 175.7 | 18.6 | -13.8 | 11.3 | -6.6 | 6.4 |
| 85 | 53 | Sherrygreen (Mulalley) | Mar-23 | 206.7 | 183.1 | 12.9 | 10.6 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 0.7 |
| 86 | 93 | Morrisroe | Oct-22 | 203.9 | 202.5 | 0.7 | -6.9 | 3.5 | -3.4 | 1.7 |
| 87 | 83 | Michael Lonsdale | Sep-22 | 203.5 | 188.2 | 8.2 | 2 | 2.1 | 1 | 1.1 |
| 88 | 43 | Forth Holdco | Aug-22 | 192.4 | 181.8 | 5.8 | 13.5 | 11.5 | 7 | 6.3 |
| 89 | 70 | Octavius Infrastructure | Mar-22 | 191.2 | 203.9 | -6.2 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| 90 | 42 | Axis Europe | Mar-22 | 191.2 | 147.9 | 29.3 | 14 | 8.3 | 7.3 | 5.6 |
| 91 | 63 | Lindum Group | Nov-22 | 185.1 | 169.5 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| 92 | 50 | Tide Construction | Aug-22 | 177.5 | 166.9 | 6.3 | 11.1 | 10.9 | 6.3 | 6.6 |
| 93 | 58 | Story Contracting Holdings | Mar-22 | 177.4 | 155.7 | 13.9 | 9 | 11.3 | 5.1 | 7.3 |
| 94 | 69 | Renaker Build | Oct-22 | 176.7 | 130.3 | 35.6 | 6 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| 95 | 80 | SDC (Holdings) | Sep-22 | 168.3 | 179.5 | -6.3 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| 96 | 24 | C.J. O'Shea Group | Mar-22 | 167 | 165.1 | 1.2 | 24.9 | 15.6 | 14.9 | 9.4 |
| 97 | 74 | EW Beard | Dec-22 | 165 | 144.2 | 14.4 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 2.9 |
| 98 | 60 | Benniman | Dec-22 | 164.7 | 85.7 | 92.2 | 8.4 | 3.5 | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| 99 | 45 | Eric Wright Group | Dec-21 | 163.9 | 204.6 | -19.9 | 13.3 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 3.9 |
| 100 | 66 | One Group Construction | Dec-21 | 160.4 | 135.8 | 18.1 | 7 | 2 | 4.4 | 1.5 |
| Totals | 74,539.10 | 66,187.90 | 12.6 | 2,029.50 | 1,061.50 | 2.72 | 1.6 |
Based on available filings at Companies House on 31/7/23.
* Continuing operations
^ Profit from continuing operations
1 18 months to June 2022 compared to 12 months to Dec 2020.
2 12 months to September 2021 compared to 18 months to September 2020.