Top 50 Contractors 2022: the table

See below for Building’s ranking of the Top 50 UK contractors by turnover. The table, compiled by Hewes Associates, is fully sortable.

>>See also: Dave Rogers’ analysis of the contracting and housebuilding market 
>>See also: Top 150 Contractors and Housebuilders 2022: full table

TOP 50 Contractors (ranked by contracting turnover)

2022 rank	2021 rank	Company	Turnover (£’000)		Operating profit (£’000)		Year end
			Latest	Previous	Latest	Previous
1	1	Balfour Beatty Group	6,746,000	6,946,000	79,000	29,000	Dec-21
2	2	Kier Group	3,107,400	3,190,700	130,800	122,000	Jun-22
3	3	Laing O’Rourke	2,503,700	2,448,500	71,800	88,200	Mar-21
4	4	Keller	2,224,400	2,062,500	92,800	110,100	Dec-21
5	6	Bam UK	1,928,869	1,559,423	na	na	Dec-21
6	5	Morgan Sindall	1,519,600	1,636,800	58,100	35,700	Dec-21
7	8	Mace	1,469,355	1,232,379	56,185	34,546	Dec-21
8	11	J Murphy Group	1,274,352	1,115,923	21,679	13,025	Dec-21
9	9	Wates Group	1,269,063	1,155,711	na	na	Dec-21
10	10	Galliford Try	1,231,000	1,118,400	29,700	21,900	Jun-22
11	12	Bowmer & Kirkland	1,178,117	1,110,433	60,673	58,047	Aug-21
12	15	Costain	1,135,200	978,400	-9,500	-91,800	Dec-21
13	7	Skanska UK	1,122,698	1,122,278	33,708	12,176	Dec-21
14	19	Winvic Group	1,029,249	659,262	16,497	14,711	Jan-22
15	17	Newarthill	954,030	824,391	na	na	Oct-21
16	18	John Graham	948,320	808,097	18,920	12,040	Mar-22
17	13	Willmott Dixon	945,967	1,024,320	na	na	Dec-21
18	-	VolkerWessels UK	941,152	905,438	na	na	Dec-21
19	14	ISG	833,200	984,200	6,900	8,700	Dec-21
20	22	Vinci	803,583	552,627	20,249	11,661	Dec-21
21	20	Multiplex Construction Europe	793,017	599,424	25,415	-129,771	Dec-21
22	19	Equans Regeneration (formerly Engie)	622,623	689,927	-6,975	-77,199	Dec-21
23	40	JRL Group (in last year as J Reddington)	609,984	569,780	28,529	29,765	Dec-21
24	21	Buckingham Group Contracting	584,462	485,697	6,622	9,182	Dec-20
25	42	TSL	548,038	232,149	10,052	6,218	Dec-21
26	23	McLaren Construction Group	541,038	525,822	-13,948	-14,536	Jul-21
27	22	Lendlease Europe	538,195	439,992	na	na	Jun-21
28	35	NG Bailey Group	499,500	507,000	800	-2,700	Feb-22
29	27	Bouygues	483,616	420,258	1,531	1,325	Dec-21
30	29	Robertson Group (Holdings)	479,002	426,906	na	na	Jun-21
31	31	Ferrovial Construction	456,298	381,382	5,624	1,048	Dec-21
32	28	McLaughlin & Harvey	416,976	450,234	na	na	Dec-20
33	39	Ardmore Construction	403,636	271,953	12,275	6,976	Sep-21
34	34	Severfield	403,563	363,254	28,227	25,126	Mar-22
35	32	Henry Group Holdings	402,214	376,573	14,168	12,981	Jun-21
36	36	McAleer & Rushe Contracts	400,534	290,054	14,908	8,366	Dec-21
37	25	ESSCI/Imtech	400,470	298,356	na	na	Dec-21
38	26	Keltbray Group	389,516	428,639	7,518	391	Oct-21
39	30	John Sisk & Son	382,886	390,182	8,454	2,832	Dec-21
40	-	Readie Construction	345,010	178,755	5,514	2,776	Mar-22
41	43	T Clarke	327,100	231,900	8,800	6,000	Dec-21
42	33	Osborne	325,808	367,478	-36,919	-9,286	Sep-21
43	-	MV Kelly	321,620	275,208	23,356	937	May-21
44	24	Carey Group	315,631	443,122	na	na	Sep-21
45	38	Watkin Jones & Sons	286,778	274,116	na	na	Sep-21
46	41	Carter	262,384	235,170	10,359	-5,096	Dec-21
47	46	OHOB Holdings	250,774	214,353	na	na	Mar-22
48	68	M&J Evans Construction	250,638	136,197	17,650	6,261	Nov-21
49	-	Enerveo/(formerly SSE Contracting)	246,700	303,500	-12,400	-2,500	Mar-21
50	47	HG Group Holdings	242,978	201,650	24,433	16,658	Dec-21

Methodology

This analysis refers to those companies identified by Hewes & Associates as the top 150 that have results available with a year end in 2021 or 2022 and for which contracting, housing and facilities management account for roughly 50% or more of turnover. The top housebuilders listing refers to firms that refer to themselves as housebuilders, and so includes developers and social housebuilders; it does not include housing associations, some of which are involved in building.  

Operating profit (included where data is available) refers to profit before pre-exceptional items etc. Turnover includes joint ventures. 

Data concerning activities is as reported by firms, but the data is not totally representative especially when viewing contracting as many private companies include other activities – such as plant hire, property, in total contracting sales data, and these affect margins. 

On the contractors table, in some instances operating profit includes activities other than contracting, and so the data are not strictly comparable. Similarly, on the FM firms table, in some instances operating profit includes activities other than services, and so the data are not strictly comparable. 

For housebuilders, house price and sale data are not directly comparable as some refer to all housing, while some exclude affordable housing. Not all firms report housing profits or sales, hence gaps in the table.

Data compilation and analysis was undertaken by Hewes & Associates, to which any queries on the data should be directed, on 01428 641518, or by email to hewesinfo@aol.com, or at www.hewes-associates.com.

 

Notes 

1 Bellway: Profit reflects cladding provision

2 Vistry: Merger with Countryside occurred only after these figures

3 Keller: Most operations are overseas

4 Wates Group: Housing relates to Wates Developments

5 Countryside: Merger with Vistry occurred only after these figures

6 Lendlease Europe: Housing includes contracting and sale of properties

7 Robertson Group: 2019 adjusted to 12 months from 15 months

8 Buckingham Group Contracting: Provisional figures

9 TSL: Previous data adjusted from 18 to 12 months

10 Carey Group: Previous data converted from 18 to 12 months

11 Emerson Developments: Profit splits refer to pre-tax profit

12 Osborne: 2020 data pro rata from 18 months 

13 St Modwen Homes: 2021 data adjusted from 13 to 12 months

14 Wain Group: Previous data 15 months converted to 12 months

15 Network Plus: 2020 data adjusted from eight months

16 Henry Boot: Other includes PFI

17 Glencar Construction: Previous data adjusted from 18 to 12 months

18 Bloor Homes: Average selling price is estimated

19 Crest Nicholson: Average selling price refers to private sales 

20 Hill Holdings: Sales are estimated; average selling price is for 
private sales

21 McCarthy Stone: Completions data includes completions for rentals

22 Inland Homes: Sales relates to private sales

23 Abbey Developments: Average selling price estimated

24 Bewley Homes: House sales are estimates

25 Galliard: Average selling price refers to private sales

26 Robertson: Sales refers to private sales only

27 Jelson: Sales data are estimates