Architect posts 33% rise in revenue, with profit also up, as it says worst of recession has now passed
Architect BDP has restarted a staff profit-sharing initiative after the firm said the worst of the recession was now behind it.
The practice, which employs more than 750 people across six offices in the UK and a further five overseas, said: 鈥淎fter several years of difficult trading conditions for our industry, the recent decision to reactivate employee and director profit sharing arrangements is an important strategic development.鈥�
Together with the reopening of its group internal share market from next year, the firm said 鈥渢hese measures will support the attraction and retention of first-class designers and managers鈥�.
It revealed the details in its latest report and accounts for the 18 months to December 2013.
Turnover rose 33% to just under 拢90m during the period, compared to the 拢67.6m, for the year to June 2012, while pre-tax profit was up from 拢1.5m to 拢1.7m.
The bulk of the firm鈥檚 work was in health and education, while just over 70% of its work was in the UK, although the firm increased its overseas workload to 29%, up from 24% last time.
During the period BDP ditched its final salary pension, which the firm said had become unaffordable, having racked up a deficit of close to 拢90m. It has now been taken on by the Pension Protection Fund.
In its latest accounts, the firm added: 鈥淭he group are now able to continue to concentrate on winning and undertaking profitable and exciting projects for our clients but without the requirement to fund the [pension] scheme in the short or long term.鈥�
The strategic report was signed off by new chief executive John McManus (pictured) who replaced Peter Drummond after nine years in charge at the start of 2014.
The salary of the highest-paid director, who is not named, was 拢282,585.
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