Reporting on trading in the first half of the year to September, the services contractor said it expected orders to rise on the back its integration of Turiff into the business.

“Trading in the first half has been strong. Our performance has been driven by an increase in highways maintenance on the back of new Government funding, activity in AMP5-related contracts.

“As planned, Turiff has provided us with access to the UK’s £1.8 bn gas market as well as a platform to deliver growth in the Scottish market,” said a trading statement.

Philip Fellowes-Prynne, chief executive of May Gurney, said: “During the first six months of the current financial year, we have continued to build on our strong performance in 2010/11 and have grown our forward order book to £1.5bn.

“The support services market remains cost competitive as clients seek to drive more value from their front-line services and demand innovation from their outsourcing partners.

“As a market leader in delivering transformational essential services to 24 million people across the UK, May Gurney is well-placed in this challenging environment.

In the first half, May Gurney was named preferred bidder for two new long-term contracts.

Bristol City Council’s waste collection, street cleansing and winter maintenance contract is valued at around £96m over seven years, with a potential seven-year extension. It mobilises next month.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s waste and recycling contract is valued at up to £126m for a fourteen-year period with the potential for a further seven year extension.

He said the firm’s pipeline of sales opportunities was worth in excess of £4bn.