好色先生TV

Global piling contractor Keller has said the UK is its most difficult market, as its business in the country slumped to a 拢2m operating loss for the first six months of the year.

Profitability across the global firm also fell significantly, with pre-tax profit down 69% in the first half from 拢11.3m to 拢3.4m.

Speaking to 好色先生TV about its half-year results, Justin Atkinson, Keller chief executive, said the UK was 鈥渋ts most difficult region鈥�.

The firm has reduced its headcount in the uk but would not say by how much

The firm admitted in a statement to the City that it had reduced its headcount in the UK, partly accounted for by the closure of its Yorkshire yard to consolidate this with one in Coventry. Atkinson refused to say how many people it had lost.

Strong margin pressures in the US had also hit the firm鈥檚 profitability globally, Atkinson said.

But he added that the UK outlook had improved thanks to the recent award of a 拢37m contract on the 拢700m overhaul of Victoria station and an expectation of winning work on Crossrail. He said the UK business made up just 5% of its revenue and he was confident of continued revenue growth internationally.

Atkinson鈥檚 comments follow last month鈥檚 purchase by Vinci of UK groundworks firm Roger Bullivant, following a halving of Bullivant鈥檚 pre-recession revenues.

Keller鈥檚 turnover internationally jumped 10% from 拢496.9m in 2010 to 拢545.5m for the financial year up to 30 June 2011. Growth of 23% across the contractor鈥檚 developing markets and Australia contributed to the increase.

Atkinson said the firm鈥檚 Eastern European operations had also recorded record profit and revenue.