Consultant says it has benefited from reduction in overheads and growth in UK industrial and energy sectors

Driver has announced that it expects to return to profitibility after reaching a ’turning point’ in January.

The global engineering and construction consultant said industrial and engery sectors in the UK had outperformed management expectations despite a challenging market.

In an AGM statement it said European and African markets were performing well but said the construction market in the Middle East was difficult.

Driver chief executive Steve Driver said: “January 2011 appears to mark a turning point as we return to profitability in the month with revenues and gross margin estimates for the second quarter up on those of Q1.”

“We have also continued to work to reduce the overheads across the group and have made significant savings at group level and regional overhead savings in the UK and the Middle East which will benefit the second half of the year.”