John Reddington admits 鈥榙ifficult year鈥 as 2022 profit hits lowest level since 2015

Profit at JRL Group fell more than 50% to the lowest level it has seen for eight years after a 鈥渄ifficult year鈥 in 2022, according to accounts for the main contractor and specialist builder.

JRL Group, which is the group entity for both groundworks and concrete frame specialist J Reddington and main contractor Midguard, reported pre-tax profit of 拢13.3m for the 2022 calendar year, just under half the 拢26.8m reported in 2021, despite sharply rising revenue.

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The firm said turnover grew by 25% to 拢761m, its highest ever. However, the pre-tax profit figure was its lowest since it reported a 拢3.9m return in 2015, and the first time since that year it has fallen below a 2% pre-tax margin.

Within the group figures, the firm said J Reddington itself made a pre-tax loss on 拢1.6m on 拢396m turnover, while Midguard made a healthy profit of 拢25.3m on turnover of 拢536.3m.

The firm also includes a number of other major specialist contracting subsidiaries, covering everything from crane hire, plant and logistics, drylining, civil engineering and M&E contracting. The results showed that JRL Group鈥檚 unitised facades contractor, McMullen Facades, reported a significant pre-tax loss of 拢21.8m after expanding turnover from 拢65.2m in the prior year to 拢128m.

JRL said McMullen had experienced 鈥減oor performing contracts and inflationary pressures鈥 and that in response to the loss, 鈥済reater resources and enhanced design capabilities are now in place鈥, alongside an 鈥渋ncreased focus on cost control and efficiencies鈥.

Chairman John Reddington said 2022 was 鈥渁 difficult year for the construction industry鈥 with 鈥渋nflation at an all-time high鈥.

However, he added that while JRL鈥檚 in-house delivery model couldn鈥檛 completely protect the firm from the impact of inflation, it 鈥渄oes save us from supply chain failures and excessive mark-ups鈥.

Reddington said JRL Group was now accessing new and more economic markets for materials to reduce costs, and had invested in a modular factory to further address cost pressures. He said: 鈥淚nflation has stabilised, we have a healthy orderbook and with a motivated team we look forward to better results in the coming years.鈥

The results statement said the firm was pleased with the 鈥渟trengthening of the group鈥檚 financial position鈥, with the net assets on the balance sheet increasing to 拢142m, from 拢130m last year. However, the accounts also showed that net debt increased to 拢64.2m, from 拢14.6m in 2021.