Construction group looks to future with optimism as 67% of 2007 order book is secured

Mace enjoyed a vintage year in 2006, thanks to a string of spectacular contract wins and a 20% increase in pre-tax profit.

During this year the consortium it was part of became the delivery partner for the 2012 Olympic Games. It was also appointed on the Shard tower at London Bridge, on the Dubai World Trade Centre and construction manager on Heathrow鈥檚 Terminal 5, which is due to open next year.

Mace鈥檚 pre-tax profit was 拢7.4m and overall turnover rose 37% to 拢372m in the period to 31 December 2006. UK work accounted for 拢343m of this sum.

Turnover in its construction business rose 35% to 拢235m. contributed the most income to this division in 2006, generating 拢33m across 82 projects. The consultancy group grew 41% to 拢137m, with most business coming from project and programme management.

Stephen Pycroft, Mace鈥檚 chief executive, said of the Olympic win: 鈥淚f there was one project to win in 2006, this was it. It continues to promote Mace on the world stage.鈥

He added: 鈥淭he group鈥檚 prospects for 2007 are positive with 67% of our budgeted order book secured within the first three months of the year.鈥

As part of its bid to become a greener business, Mace has teamed up with Ethos Recycling, to double the amount of waste recycled from 40-45% to 88%.

During the financial year founding member Bob White stepped down as chairman and became a non-executive director, while Marcus Burley, David Grover and Gareth Lewis became board directors and shareholders.

Mace in numbers

Turnover
2006: 拢372m (2005: 拢271m)
2007 target: 拢500m

Pre-tax profit
2006: 拢7.4m (2005: 拢6.2m)
2007 target: 拢10m