In the year that the Olympic park and the Shard completed, winner Mace’s impressive financials have rounded off a ‘celebratory and congratulatory’ year for the firm


WINNER Mace

The Shard


2012 was certainly a big year for Mace, seeing the culmination of two of the biggest projects the company has ever undertaken. Back in 2006, the firm won the delivery partner role on the London 2012 Olympic Games as part of the CLM consortium. The successful completion of the Olympic park, on time and on budget will act as a calling card for Mace for years to come, but 2012 also saw the practical completion of the Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building and the most significant addition to London’s skyline for years. Mace’s financials have also been impressive, with an increase in total income of 15% in the last year to over £1bn, and operating profits up 18% to £28m. Executive chairman Stephen Pycroft justifiably describes 2012 as cause for “celebrations and congratulations”.

RUNNERS-UP

Artelia UK

While still relatively unknown, project management and engineering consultancy Artelia saw its UK income grow by 327% in the last year to £15m, while its UK operating profit grew 227% to £680,000. In 2012, the firm acquired established consultancy Appleyards, which allowed the company to move from working almost entirely for the private sector to having a broadly even public-private income split.

Capita Symonds

Capita Symonds was unable to supply complete financial information at the time of its submission, although it did say that its UK fee income has decreased by 16% between 2011 and 2012. In terms of contract wins and project successes, however, Capita Symonds highlights engineering, surveying and property roles on High Speed 2, the Department for Education’s nationwide Property Data Survey Programme for schools, and setting up major local authority partnership deals. In terms of project management, the company completed its work on the London 2012 Olympic Games and won a role on the UK’s first University Technical College in Burnley, Lancashire. The firm is currently advising on the final stages of the Library of Birmingham project - one of the most significant public building projects scheduled to open this year.

Interserve Consulting

Operating exclusively in the UK market, Interserve has seen strong growth in the last three years. In the last year its turnover increased 7%, while its operating profit increased by 184%. In the last three years the firm’s income has grown by 20%, while its operating profit is up 119%. The company attributes its success in recent years to an expanded service offering and its having secured positions on several valuable frameworks with big UK clients. The company highlights its sustainability services, which it says have helped save its clients millions of pounds in recent years.

Pick Everard

Project management firm Pick Everard had a strong year, with its fee income up 39% to £3m between 2011 and 2012. The firm’s operating profit was also up substantially over the same period, from £55m to £113m, while headcount increased by 26%. The company reports that it mainly focuses on the public sector, with over 90% of its fee income coming from publicly funded projects. It says that it has opened two new offices in the last year, in Cardiff and Manchester, and that it has won a place on several major local authority frameworks. It credits much of its success to its focus on partnering with SMEs, in line with the government’s construction strategy.

Turner & Townsend

While Turner & Townsend has seen a decrease in its UK turnover and operating profit in the last three years, its performance as a business as a whole has seen significant growth. Over that period the company’s overall turnover has increased 12%, reaching £275m in 2012, while its operating profit has also grown 12% to £24m. In the last 12 months the company’s income has grown by 16%, while its operating profit is up 26%. Turner & Townsend’s headcount is up 10% over the same period. The company achieved completion on the Shard in 2012 and was called in by the City of Edinburgh council to help rescue its troubled tram project.