Willmott Dixon margin hits 2.8% as profit soars

Aaron Morby 6 years ago
Share

Willmott Dixon is building a cash pile to weather further client project delays stemming from Brexit uncertainty.

Chief executive Rick Willmott says the business offers the best payment terms and payment on time statistics of any major contractor
Chief executive Rick Willmott says the business offers the best payment terms and payment on time statistics of any major contractor

The debt-free building contractor said restructuring to focus on building and fit-out work had paid-off last year with a 55% hike in pre-tax profit to £37.5m.

This helped to raise operating margin to 2.8% from 1.9% in 2017 and build up average daily net cash of £100m.

Despite a tightening market, a growing share of work placed by clients saw revenue edged forward 4% to £1.3bn.

Willmott Dixon’s group chief executive Rick Willmott said: “Our approach of the last two years to focus entirely on construction and fit-out is showing strong results with good earnings growth, increased margin, a solid cash position and a robust, sustainable forward order book.

“This at a time when the pipeline of work available to the country’s fifty largest contractors has continued to diminish post the 2016 Brexit referendum; caused by postponement or cancellation of project opportunities. 

“Being in a position of strength to weather the consequences of a further material depletion in accessible workload will remain a key priority for Willmott Dixon.”

He said Willmott Dixon’s position on public sector procurement frameworks would be a key driver for its business, opening the door to £25bn of potential workload volume.

Presently 73% of the firm’s order book is framework secured.

Willmott said the group was focused on sustaining a healthy supply chain, with average payment times of 32 days.

He added that the group aimed to better this record which made it the best paying top 20 main contractor.

Latest news

Wates wins fit-out for Manchester First Street Hub

Smartspace arm secures another Government hub deal
19 hours ago

Big trade names dropped in M Group rebrand

Acquisitive group formed from Morrison Utility services in 2016
17 hours ago

Breyer Group files administration notice

Staff hope rival firm could buy assets and save jobs
22 hours ago

Peel Ports reveals winners for £750m framework

18 firms win places on deal: Full list
20 hours ago

Former Severfield director takes helm at Embrace Steel

New CEO Martin Kelly aims to step up expansion of steelwork contractor
22 hours ago

£302m upgrade funding awarded to FE colleges – list

Cash shared out between England’s 179 college groups
22 hours ago

FK Facades thrives but construction arm hit by ISG row

Dispute with failed contractor costs specialist £5.5m
23 hours ago

Galliford Try gets go-ahead for Milton Keynes PRS tower

33-storey tower needs gateway 2 approval before work can start
2 days ago

Small house builders get £150m funding for green homes

Developers will have to meet-up to ten new criteria to benefit from interest rate discounts
22 hours ago

Lendlease Construction renamed Bovis

US private equity firm completes £35m purchase of UK contracting business and rebrands
2 days ago

Breyer Group battles for survival as rivals circle

Housing maintenance firm fights three winding up petitions in a month
2 days ago

Careys facing £2.4m claim by developer over demolition cartel

Giant Hong Kong developer claims it was overcharged on Lots Road Power Station job
2 days ago

Multiplex profit drops a third as revenue rises to £780m

Spate of new orders sets contractor up for three years of work
2 days ago

Galliford Try and Breheny land latest Sizewell C road deals

More infrastructure deals for new nuclear power station
3 days ago

Worker trapped in collapsed septic tank pit

Contractor and director fined after worker suffers multiple fractures
2 days ago

Homes England buys stalled Broad Marsh site

Demolition to finally be completed as developer hunt begins
2 days ago

Vistry go-ahead for 353 homes at Rochester Riverside

Work to start on next phase of Kent town regeneration at end of this year
3 days ago

M&E firm J S Wright collapsed owing £19m

Trade creditors hit for £11.4m by employee-owned Midlands firm
3 days ago

Right to work checks to be extended to self-employed

Government plans crackdown on illegal working and rogue employers
3 days ago

Midlands developer turns to London with £1bn resi schemes trio

SevenCapital plans 1,000 flats in Kensington, Islington and the Isle of Dogs projects
3 days ago

Deck falls off huge scissor lift at Winvic site

Two men seriously injured as platform plunges to the ground
6 days ago

Weston targets Build to Rent with new division

Weston Partnerships signs first deals with asset managers and councils
3 days ago

Bouygues seals deal for £119m Cardiff college campus

Construction to start in June on two new buildings
6 days ago

£140m cash injection to speed-up flood defence schemes

Funding part of £2.65bn investment over the next two years
3 days ago

Bid race starts for £15bn schools framework refresh

DfE throws framework open to more contractors
6 days ago

Berkeley’s £600m Borough Triangle project approved

Controversial scheme features two towers of 38 and 44-storeys
7 days ago

London Mayor calls in blocked 600-bed student scheme

Refused 20-storey London PBSA block may still be built
6 days ago

HG to build 500-bed London Stratford student scheme

Work will start later this year subject to gateway 2 safety approval
7 days ago

Arrest after pedestrian death on construction site

Tragedy during site preparation works for new Wigan car park
6 days ago

British Steel threatens closure of Scunthorpe blast furnaces

Chinese owners say sectional steel and rail supplies will be maintained
7 days ago

Contractor services