Construction and services order books remain “robust”

Kier has secured 85% of its construction order book for next year, the firm said in a trading statement this morning.

The listed contractor said trading at its construction division was “resilient” and the division was maintaining operating margins above 2%.

Kier added recent wins had boosted its property division’s development pipeline to £750m.

The company hailed the government’s long-awaited Priority Schools Building Programme.

The first £400m of the programme will be delivered through the academies framework, of which Kier is a member.