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NG Bailey
In 1999, mechanical and electrical specialist NG Bailey achieved its best-ever results – turnover rose 1.8% to £271.2m and operating profit increased 56% to £7.6m. Repeat work leaped from 50% in 1998 to 70% last year. Alongside this strong financial performance is a list of impressive projects, including Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, the Millennium Dome, the Heathrow Express rail link and Luton Airport.

Crown House Engineering
M&E firm Crown House Engineering also proved its worth on the Millennium Dome, installing an environment-friendly "grey-water system" with zero defects. Turnover at the Wolverhampton-based firm rose 23% to £210m in 1999, with 80% of its work completed through strategic alliances.

Irvine Whitlock
Specialist masonry contractor Irvine Whitlock posted strong figures in 1999, with turnover up 16% to £22.5m and operating profit up by more than one-half to £400 000. The results were driven by the firm's impressive percentage of repeat business, which accounted for 90% of work. The Bedford-based firm also partnered on more than one-third of its projects last year.

A close call, but what gave them the edge was the greater progress they had made

Their repeat business was the best – a good barometer of their skills and achievement

Undoubtedly moving in the right direction – they are on the right course