Top 100 Construction Companies 2017
With red ink all over the balance sheets of the UK’s biggest construction groups, this year’s TCI Top 100 table doesn't make for pretty reading. Will Mann reports on the latest financial performances of the industry’s major players.
Oh dear. Just when we thought construction had shaken off the worst of the troublesome ‘legacy’ contracts from the recession, the past year showed that many of the industry’s big names still have plenty of issues to work through. At first glance, the picture does not look too bad. Total revenue for all firms in the TCI Top 100 2017 was up 7.6% to £74.3bn (£69.1bn). However, collective profit dropped 4.1% to £1.1bn (£1.2bn), and margin also fell, from 1.7% to 1.5%. Some 34 firms recorded falls in turnover, 12 dropped into the red, and another 28 saw their profit fall. And it’s at the top of the table where the biggest and most alarming casualties are found. Balfour Beatty has squeezed back into the black with a slender £8m profit – a wafer thin margin of just 0.1% - after its annus horribilis a year ago which led to a loss of £199m. Read more...
| Latest Rank By Turnover | Latest Rank By Profit | Company | Latest Turnover (£m) | Previous Turnover (£m) | Change (%) | Latest Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Previous Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Change (%) | Latest Margin | Previous Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49 | Balfour Beatty | 8,683.0 | 8,444.0 | 2.8 | 8.0 | -199.0 | N/A | 0.1 | N/A |
| 2 | 1 | Carillion | 5,214.2 | 4,586.9 | 13.7 | 146.7 | 155.1 | -5.4 | 2.8 | 3.4 |
| 3 | 94 | Kier Group | 4,211.0 | 3,275.9 | 28.5 | -15.4 | 39.5 | N/A | N/A | 1.2 |
| 4 | 99 | Interserve | 3,685.2 | 3,204.6 | 15.0 | -76.4 | 79.5 | N/A | N/A | 2.5 |
| 5 | 9 | Morgan Sindall | 2,561.6 | 2,384.7 | 7.4 | 43.9 | -14.8 | N/A | 1.7 | N/A |
| 6 | 98 | Amey UK | 2,531.0 | 2,531.9 | -0.0 | -43.9 | 23.6 | N/A | N/A | 0.9 |
| 7 | 100 | Laing O'Rourke | 2,513.2 | 3,127.4 | -19.6 | -245.6 | 12.4 | N/A | N/A | 0.4 |
| 8 | 2 | Galliford Try | 2,494.9 | 2,348.4 | 6.2 | 135.0 | 114.0 | 18.4 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| 9 | 97 | Mitie | 2,126.3 | 2,231.9 | -4.7 | -42.9 | 96.8 | -144.3 | N/A | 4.3 |
| 10 | 40 | Mace | 2,041.1 | 1,811.3 | 12.7 | 10.7 | 36.2 | -70.4 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| 11 | 4 | Keller | 1,780.0 | 1,562.4 | 13.9 | 73.9 | 56.3 | 31.3 | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| 12 | 12 | Skanska 1 | 1,678.0 | 1,383.5 | 21.3 | 35.1 | 42.1 | -16.6 | 2.1 | 3.0 |
| 13 | 14 | Costain | 1,658.0 | 1,263.6 | 31.2 | 30.9 | 26.0 | 18.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| 14 | 11 | Wates | 1,531.9 | 1,206.9 | 26.9 | 35.5 | 28.1 | 26.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 15 | 65 | ISG 2 | 1,329.3 | 1,648.6 | -19.4 | 4.8 | -12.9 | N/A | 0.4 | N/A |
| 16 | 13 | Willmott Dixon | 1,223.0 | 1,323.9 | -7.6 | 31.1 | 4.4 | 603.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 |
| 17 | 7 | Keepmoat | 1,133.5 | 1,094.9 | 3.5 | 61.6 | 54.1 | 13.9 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| 18 | 16 | BAM Construct | 1,072.2 | 897.5 | 19.5 | 26.2 | 13.0 | 101.5 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| 19 | 32 | Multiplex | 1,035.9 | 620.0 | 67.1 | 16.0 | 21.9 | -26.8 | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| 20 | 15 | Mears | 940.1 | 881.1 | 6.7 | 29.4 | 25.9 | 13.4 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| 21 | 74 | Vinci UK | 931.7 | 935.3 | -0.4 | 2.8 | -69.4 | N/A | 0.3 | N/A |
| 22 | 8 | Bowmer & Kirkland | 930.7 | 848.2 | 9.7 | 61.5 | 39.1 | 57.2 | 6.6 | 4.6 |
| 23 | 6 | Lendlease | 898.7 | 524.6 | 71.3 | 66.7 | 5.5 | 1,107.2 | 7.4 | 1.1 |
| 24 | 41 | Sir Robert Mcalpine | 869.6 | 805.5 | 8.0 | 10.2 | -35.7 | N/A | 1.2 | N/A |
| 25 | 22 | Volkerwessels | 852.1 | 746.9 | 14.1 | 20.8 | 14.8 | 40.7 | 2.4 | 2.0 |
| 26 | 3 | Homeserve | 785.0 | 633.2 | 24.0 | 98.3 | 82.6 | 19.0 | 12.5 | 13.0 |
| 27 | 34 | BAM Nuttall | 637.0 | 787.1 | -19.1 | 14.3 | 18.2 | -21.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| 28 | 17 | Morrison Utility Services | 614.0 | 585.3 | 4.9 | 24.1 | 20.1 | 19.9 | 3.9 | 3.4 |
| 29 | 19 | J Murphy & Sons | 613.9 | 647.5 | -5.2 | 23.3 | 13.8 | 68.8 | 3.8 | 2.1 |
| 30 | 24 | Renew | 525.7 | 519.6 | 1.2 | 19.6 | 16.1 | 21.7 | 3.7 | 3.1 |
| 31 | 30 | John Graham | 507.9 | 507.9 | 0.0 | 17.2 | 17.2 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 32 | 26 | NG Bailey Group | 500.3 | 400.7 | 24.9 | 18.6 | 6.3 | 195.2 | 3.7 | 1.6 |
| 33 | 57 | Eurovia | 469.3 | 462.3 | 1.5 | 6.7 | -1.3 | N/A | 1.4 | N/A |
| 34 | 23 | Robertson Group | 442.1 | 288.4 | 53.3 | 20.3 | 12.0 | 69.6 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| 35 | 29 | Carey Group | 430.7 | 311.5 | 38.3 | 17.3 | 7.1 | 142.9 | 4.0 | 2.3 |
| 36 | 95 | John Sisk | 419.4 | 343.8 | 22.0 | -17.8 | 0.9 | N/A | N/A | 0.3 |
| 37 | 20 | Winvic Construction | 417.4 | 227.7 | 83.3 | 22.3 | 9.7 | 129.0 | 5.3 | 4.3 |
| 38 | 55 | Buckingham Group Contracting | 395.0 | 408.3 | -3.3 | 7.3 | 13.1 | -44.3 | 1.8 | 3.2 |
| 39 | 18 | Keltbray Group | 369.4 | 272.3 | 35.7 | 23.6 | 10.9 | 117.0 | 6.4 | 4.0 |
| 40 | 33 | SSE Contracting | 353.9 | 489.6 | -27.7 | 14.7 | 79.6 | -81.5 | 4.2 | 16.3 |
| 41 | 96 | Bouygues UK | 349.6 | 331.2 | 5.6 | -19.4 | 11.6 | N/A | N/A | 3.5 |
| 42 | 37 | Integral UK | 343.0 | 376.1 | -8.8 | 11.8 | 12.6 | -6.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 43 | 71 | Osborne | 342.2 | 308.9 | 10.8 | 3.4 | 5.6 | -39.7 | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| 44 | 91 | Byrne Group | 329.4 | 298.9 | 10.2 | -11.9 | -4.0 | 194.7 | N/A | N/A |
| 45 | 10 | Henry Boot | 306.8 | 176.2 | 74.1 | 39.5 | 32.4 | 21.9 | 12.9 | 18.4 |
| 46 | 66 | Ardmore Construction | 303.6 | 218.5 | 38.9 | 4.5 | -12.0 | N/A | 1.5 | N/A |
| 47 | 31 | JRL Group | 288.6 | 251.7 | 14.7 | 16.2 | 3.9 | 319.9 | 5.6 | 1.5 |
| 48 | 48 | R G Carter | 286.4 | 267.5 | 7.1 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| 49 | 90 | Spie | 284.0 | 219.7 | 29.3 | -11.5 | -24.1 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 50 | 62 | T Clarke | 278.6 | 242.4 | 14.9 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 77.1 | 2.2 | 1.4 |
| Latest Rank By Turnover | Latest Rank By Profit | Company | Latest Turnover (£m) | Previous Turnover (£m) | Change (%) | Latest Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Previous Pre-tax Profit (£m) | Change (%) | Latest Margin | Previous Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 47 | ESH | 275.5 | 276.8 | -0.5 | 8.6 | 9.5 | -9.7 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| 52 | 35 | Watkin Jones | 267.0 | 255.2 | 4.6 | 13.3 | 29.5 | -55.0 | 5.0 | 11.6 |
| 53 | 93 | Ferrovial Agroman | 262.3 | 235.6 | 11.3 | -13.1 | 24.7 | N/A | N/A | 10.5 |
| 54 | 68 | Northstone NI | 261.4 | 298.2 | -12.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| 55 | 58 | Lakehouse Contracts | 260.5 | 278.8 | -6.6 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 31.6 | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| 56 | 63 | Higgins Group | 260.4 | 226.2 | 15.1 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 28.1 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| 57 | 72 | Clancy Group | 257.2 | 280.9 | -8.4 | 3.3 | 5.1 | -35.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| 58 | 76 | North Midland Construction | 250.5 | 217.6 | 15.1 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 246.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| 59 | 50 | Rydon Group | 249.2 | 228.8 | 8.9 | 7.8 | 11.9 | -34.2 | 3.1 | 5.2 |
| 61 | 21 | OHOB | 247.8 | 204.5 | 21.2 | 21.2 | 17.8 | 19.1 | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| 60 | 28 | F M Conway | 247.8 | 234.5 | 5.7 | 17.4 | 14.7 | 18.4 | 7.0 | 6.3 |
| 62 | 75 | McLaughlin & Harvey | 247.2 | 273.8 | -9.7 | 2.7 | -11.7 | N/A | 1.1 | N/A |
| 63 | 43 | McAleer & Rushe | 242.9 | 180.0 | 34.9 | 10.0 | 5.1 | 96.1 | 4.1 | 2.8 |
| 64 | 73 | Emcor Group UK | 240.6 | 249.5 | -3.6 | 3.2 | 4.6 | -30.1 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| 65 | 44 | Severfield | 239.4 | 201.5 | 18.8 | 9.6 | -0.2 | N/A | 4.0 | N/A |
| 66 | 52 | Lagan Construction Group | 225.6 | 202.2 | 11.6 | 7.6 | 4.6 | 65.7 | 3.4 | 2.3 |
| 67 | 45 | Colas | 221.4 | 256.7 | -13.7 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 50.5 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| 68 | 67 | Ogilvie Group | 216.0 | 209.4 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 4.9 | -7.9 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 69 | 86 | Midas Group | 215.8 | 248.6 | -13.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 30.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 70 | 89 | City Building (Glasgow) | 208.4 | 215.0 | -3.1 | -11.2 | -4.1 | 172.6 | N/A | N/A |
| 71 | 92 | Enserve Group | 200.6 | 222.1 | -9.7 | -12.9 | -20.5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 72 | 38 | Malcolm Group | 194.5 | 199.8 | -2.7 | 11.1 | 9.5 | 16.8 | 5.7 | 4.8 |
| 73 | 88 | Dawnus Group | 189.7 | 248.6 | -23.7 | -9.0 | 1.5 | N/A | N/A | 0.6 |
| 74 | 53 | Cruden | 187.3 | 142.2 | 31.7 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| 75 | 59 | Forth | 185.9 | 204.1 | -8.9 | 6.7 | 7.5 | -11.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| 76 | 78 | Lorne Stewart | 184.9 | 200.3 | -7.7 | 1.5 | 3.6 | -58.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 |
| 77 | 61 | United Living Group | 180.7 | 220.6 | -18.1 | 6.4 | 2.4 | 168.0 | 3.5 | 1.1 |
| 79 | 85 | McNicholas Construction | 179.9 | 156.0 | 15.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 7.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 78 | 77 | William Hare | 179.8 | 165.5 | 8.7 | 1.7 | 3.2 | -46.9 | 0.9 | 1.9 |
| 80 | 69 | Briggs & Forrester | 177.5 | 164.4 | 7.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 54.4 | 2.5 | 1.7 |
| 81 | 60 | Eric Wright | 177.4 | 160.6 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 7.9 | -16.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 |
| 82 | 54 | Mulalley & Co | 174.7 | 160.5 | 8.8 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| 84 | 51 | M V Kelly | 173.2 | 136.4 | 27.0 | 7.7 | 13.7 | -44.0 | 4.4 | 10.1 |
| 83 | 81 | Tolent | 173.2 | 132.9 | 30.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 450.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 85 | 82 | Solar Century | 168.3 | 222.3 | -24.3 | 1.1 | 6.1 | -81.9 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
| 86 | 27 | RJ McLeod | 165.7 | 116.3 | 42.5 | 18.0 | 12.3 | 46.3 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| 87 | 79 | RGCM | 165.1 | 147.8 | 11.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 30.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| 88 | 80 | Seddon | 150.2 | 189.5 | -20.8 | 1.2 | 1.4 | -14.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| 89 | 36 | McLaren Construction | 149.6 | 378.0 | -60.4 | 12.8 | -15.4 | N/A | 8.6 | N/A |
| 90 | 56 | Axis Europe | 149.4 | 134.4 | 11.2 | 7.0 | 8.9 | -21.3 | 4.7 | 6.6 |
| 91 | 25 | Caddick Group | 148.6 | 94.2 | 57.7 | 18.8 | 4.0 | 370.0 | 12.7 | 4.2 |
| 92 | 5 | Canary Wharf Contractors | 148.4 | 124.9 | 18.8 | 69.7 | 2.3 | 2,930.4 | 47.0 | 1.8 |
| 93 | 46 | Masterson Holdings | 144.0 | 155.2 | -7.2 | 9.5 | 11.7 | -18.8 | 6.6 | 7.5 |
| 94 | 87 | Simons | 141.9 | 114.8 | 23.6 | 0.1 | 0.4 | -75.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| 95 | 42 | Durkan | 141.1 | 192.6 | -26.8 | 10.2 | 19.1 | -46.6 | 7.2 | 9.9 |
| 96 | 70 | EW Beard | 136.4 | 110.8 | 23.1 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 37.9 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| 97 | 84 | Hochtief UK | 130.1 | 146.4 | -11.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | -47.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 |
| 98 | 64 | Lindum | 127.9 | 110.3 | 16.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 66.7 | 3.9 | 2.7 |
| 99 | 39 | Thomas Armstrong | 127.3 | 134.8 | -5.6 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 1.1 | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| 100 | 83 | Clugston Group | 118.2 | 143.4 | -17.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | -55.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Totals | 74,287.8 | 69,069.7 | 7.6 | 1,108.9 | 1,155.8 | -4.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 |