Firm reports improvement in the pipeline of opportunities in the UK construction market

Hopkin's and ISG's St Thomas' hospital scheme

Contractor ISG has reported that its order book has increased 20% to 拢915m.

In a trading update to the City, the firm said that at the end of October its order book was up to 拢915m, from 拢761m the previous year.

It said that 拢686m of the orders were to be delivered in this financial year.

ISG added that its UK construction business was 鈥渟eeing signs of a general improvement in the pipeline of opportunities鈥.

鈥淲e continue to focus on securing repeat orders and higher market share from key customers and frameworks,鈥 it said.

The contractor said it had secured 鈥渕ajor schemes鈥 for drinks firm Diageo; investment firm Blackstone and developer Amazon Property.

ISG said recent acquisitions of businesses in Brazil and Germany were 鈥渇urther strengthening鈥 its international portfolio of work. But it added that trading conditions in Europe remained 鈥渟ubdued鈥.

It said: 鈥淎s the UK and world economies emerge from the downturn and confidence returns, our strategy of greater sector focus and targeting of key large and emerging cities means that we are well placed to capitalise on the growing number of high quality opportunities coming to market.鈥