The total profits of the UK’s largest construction and civil engineering firms grew 10% each year between 1998 and 2001, according to new report.
The report, from business information company the Prospect Shop, also found that the industry’s largest 132 firms, with annual turnover of more than £50m, enjoyed compound turnover growth of 17% during the period. The report found the average pre-tax profit margin for the industry was 3.4% in 2000/1 compared with 3.9% in 1998/9.

Companies with the highest pre-tax profit margins included Courdace Holdings (24.2%), Galliard Holdings (23.5%) and St James Homes (18.9%).

Another Prospect Shop report found that over the same period, total pre-tax profit growth for smaller companies grew 21% and turnover grew 6%.