Estimating director Bryan Taylor is formally leaving next month after nearly six years with the business as part of a rethink of estimating functions.

Before joining Galliford Try he worked at Kier and Morgan Sindall.

He follows Nick Culshaw, operations director for Highways England work, who left at end of December.

Culshaw has been at Galliford Try for just over a year and joined after leaving VolkerStevin where he was an operation director for over three years.

The infrastructure division has also lost commercial director Richard Plant who has just joined Buckinging Contracting Group as group commercial director after nearly four years with Galliford Try.

These senior departures come three months after managing director Nick Salt left to join consultant Systra to head its UK business.

Meanwhile, this morning chief executive Bill Hocking, said prospects were good for the group, entering the new year as an independent contractor with a £3.2bn order book.

In a first-half trading update this morning, he said: “The successful completion of the disposal of the housing and partnerships divisions means Galliford Try is now a well-capitalised and focused UK construction group.

“Our robust financial position combined with market-leading positions in our chosen sectors means that we are strongly positioned for future disciplined growth.”

He said the group expected annual performance to be weighted to the second half of the financial year in June due to both market uncertainty and the settlement of certain claims in the first half of the year. 

“I am very excited about the future opportunities for Galliford Try. There is good momentum in the business, reflected by a number of significant wins through the first half of the year and the strength of the high-quality order book.”

He predicted average month-end cash balances for the second half of the financial year would be in excess of £100m.