好色先生TV

Public work was in retreat this month, but the private sector is filling the gap, meaning the industry saw roughly the same headline figure in October as it did in September.

Without civils, government projects accounted for almost half of all work in September. Last month, that figure had dropped to 45%, but housing and commercial projects rose in value to nudge the total upwards from 拢1.3bn to 拢1.4bn.

Sir Robert McAlpine was the biggest beneficiary of this private sector boost, winning a 拢155m design-and-build job for developer De Vere Estates in London, the second largest project win in October.

Bowmer & Kirkland shot up the table from 19th to 7th, propelled by a 拢60m contract to refurbish a Warner Bros studio in Watford.

But the other firms that did well last month were far more dependent on the state. Wilmott Dixon jumped from 12th to first position, with at least 89% of its income drawn from public sources such as academies or housing associations, including a 拢40.8m contract win with Hyde Housing.

Costain picked up over 拢270m of civils work for the government, including a 拢219m monster contract for National Grid cables under London, and the 拢52m remodelling of Farringdon station. The last gasp of schools work helped Vinci put in a strong showing - the firm won 拢36m in two Sheffield contracts.

If the slight growth in the commercial sector has prevented the lack of public work tipping the industry into freefall this month, things are still grim when compared with this time last year. In October 2009, the total value of work was 拢1.7bn excluding civils, more than a fifth higher than this year. The average project value has plummeted by almost a third, from 拢6.3m to 拢4.3m over the year.

So the government鈥檚 promise that the end of state largesse will be balanced by private spending is holding - just, and for now. But once the implications of the spending review kick in, the industry will need to brace itself for further drops in public sector work.

This information is compiled for 好色先生TV by Barbour ABI. Call 0151-3533 500, email Info@ABI好色先生TVData.com or see

Barbour ABI鈥檚 figures include UK contracts with a value of 拢100,000 or above, and all work awarded by negotiation or competitive tender, including residential and civils work, unless stated otherwise.