We are part of region's fabric, says Interserve

The group has won a £12.3m contract to redevelop the historic Kirkgate Market in Leeds City Centre. The redevelopment will modernise the Grade I listed building which attracts more than 35,000 shoppers per week.

As work progresses, Interserve said it is a priority to make sure it’s business as usual for the 200 permanent businesses located within the indoor market as well as the 150 trading in the open market.

The redevelopment will include the creation of a new event space and dedicated cafe area and renewal of the 1976 and 1981 halls including replacement roofs in both halls.

Interserve’s chief executive Adrian Ringrose said: “Yorkshire is an important region for us. We are pretty much part of the fabric in Yorkshire.”

He was speaking as the group announced plans to exit its energy-from-waste business, after it took a £70m hit in the first half from cost over-runs and delays.

The company, whose activities range from running facilities management at White Rose shopping centre in Leeds to apprenticeship training in Sheffield, reported a 2.1 per cent rise in headline operating profit to £62.9m in the six months to June 30.

Interserve said its outlook for the full year is unchanged despite the increased political and macro-economic uncertainty following Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

Many companies serving the UK construction market have warned of a slowdown in recent weeks after Britain voted to leave the EU, as private firms and the government hesitate to award new contracts in an economy contending with the possibility of a recession.

Mr Ringrose said: “We are not experiencing any impact we can discern as yet. We earn a third of our products in dollar denominated currencies which will be helpful in the future.”

In Sheffield, the group is looking forward to the introduction of the apprenticeship levy next year.

The group trains 18 to 24-year-olds across a number of sectors.