Turner & Townsend does well overseas

The Leeds-based group said that while it saw good growth in the Americas, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Continental Europe and Australia, the UK market continues to experience tough market conditions.

Its international operations now account for almost half (47 per cent) of the group’s revenues, up from only 10 per cent 10 years ago.

Turner & Townsend’s chairman Tim Wray said non-UK revenues have grown by 22 per cent.

“This demonstrates the investment we’ve put into growing the international business over the past 10 years,” he said. “The UK has gone backwards slightly and moving forward we see the it staying pretty flat.”

Despite the sluggish UK economy, Turner & Townsend has continued to win new business in the UK.

It has won a framework agreement with Yorkshire Water and is continuing to work with Bradford-based Morrisons in the region.

It will also provide a range of services for the Advance Manufacturing Park in the University of Sheffield.

In the year to April 30 turnover increased by nine per cent to £236m. Pre-tax profits fell from £17.8m to £15.7m, reflecting the challenging UK market.

Over the course of the year Turner & Townsend produced a feasibility study on the nuclear industry for Sheffield Forgemasters’ manufacturing plant.

It was also responsible for cost and project management on the Hepworth, Wakefield, the largest purpose built gallery space in the UK outside of London, which opened its doors to the public at the end of May.

The group nearly doubled revenue from the mining and metals sector with growth of 95 per cent.