ISG margins squeezed as orders hit record £1.9bn

Aaron Morby 2 years ago
Share

A series of hyperscale jobs placed ISG on a steady footing at the start of the year after its order book swelled 18% to a record £1.9bn.

CEO Matt Blowers said ISG started with a healthy cash balance, zero debt and its best-ever forward order book
CEO Matt Blowers said ISG started with a healthy cash balance, zero debt and its best-ever forward order book

ISG’s Fit-out and Construction operations demonstrated strong resilience against a challenging global economic backdrop in 2022 maintaining group revenue at a record high of £2.2bn.

But the challenges impacted average group operating margin which was squeezed to 0.5% from 0.83% previously.

As a result reported pre-tax profit dropped to £11.5m from £18.5m in 2022.

In his first year as chief executive, Matt Blowers saw the firm secure its largest ever job, a £600m order to deliver the Sunset Waltham Cross Studios development in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

ISG also made inroads to the biopharmaceutical sector with a £200m deal this year for a vaccines manufacturing plant on Teesside.

Blowers said: “Our record forward order book reflects the demand for our unique and specialist services.

“In addition to our traditional sectors, we are increasingly working on hyperscale schemes in growing segments, including semi-conductors, film studios, future mobility and life sciences.”

Fit-out continued to dominate profit generation contributing £32m, while mainstream construction produced a more modest £4.8m profit from £1.2bn revenue.

ISG trading divisions in 2022
Revenue Change EBITDA Change Order book Change
Construction £1.2bn n/c £4.8m 23% £1.3bn 21%
Fit-out £989m -0.4% £32m -9% £576m 20%

During 2022, the Fit-out business launched a low-carbon retrofit offer to prospective clients looking at retro-first approach to assets.

ISG maintained its zero-debt status and continues to hold a healthy net cash balance of £105m.

Latest news

Ridge buys rival consultant Jubb

Acquisition will see 100 new staff join Ridge
4 hours ago

Enabling works to start £130m Huyton town centre regen

Phase one includes a new council HQ, hotel and 72 flats
5 hours ago

Grainger build to rent pipeline rises to £1.4bn

Rental specialist buys sites in Sheffield and Cardiff to build 600 rental homes
5 hours ago

Kier wins Cambridgeshire County council estate upkeep

Firm will provide building and M&E services to 106 buildings across the county
4 hours ago

Louvres and solar shading specialist files for administration

Hampshire based ALPS lodges court notice after 25 years in business
5 hours ago

Speedy Hire posts a loss in latest results

Hire giant confident of better performance in next six months
5 hours ago

Esh to lead next phase of Riverside Sunderland regeneration

Infrastructure work will allow further development of Sheepfolds area
4 hours ago

Green light for £1.3bn Edinburgh coastal town revamp

First phase of Granton Waterfront scheme will see Cruden Homes create a new community
22 hours ago

Vistry chief operating officer steps down

Earl Sibley exits as his COO role axed for more direct reporting to CEO
1 day ago

House builder Camstead goes into administration

Work stopped on three current sites
2 days ago

Death of piling legend Roger Bullivant

Industry innovator dies after long illness aged 85
1 day ago

ESS Modular went down owing suppliers £7m

Modular specialist owned by ISG owner Cathexis
1 day ago

Builders back farmers in inheritance tax protest

"A rethink is desperately needed" say National Federation of Builders
1 day ago

Willmott Dixon wins £36m leisure centre upgrade

Work to start on historic Westminster 1930s Grade II listed Seymour Centre
1 day ago

Graham wins £100m Cardiff Crossrail phase 1

Work on route to Cardiff Bay to start before end of next year
2 days ago

Laing O’Rourke appoints new European MD

Peter Lyons to take-up new role in February
3 days ago

Profits dip at Stepnell ahead of demerger

Turnover and secured workloads up ahead of restructure
3 days ago

HS2 green bridge deck takes shape

100m-wide wildlife bridge to carry hedgerows and country lane over HS2
2 days ago

1,000-home Wolverhampton city centre scheme in for planning

ECF and council advance City Centre West build to rent scheme
3 days ago

Sisk clinches £54m North London council HQ revamp

Haringey's iconic Grade II listed civic centre to be brought back into use
3 days ago

Ofgem approves £2.5bn Eastern Green Link 1

Work to start next Spring on cable project from Scotland to the north of England
3 days ago

Anglian Water hunts for £1bn delivery partner

Programme delivery partner wil integrate with client team over 15-year plan
3 days ago

Hadden collapse costs supply chain £6.7m

"Highly unlikely" subcontractors will receive anything for their unpaid invoices
3 days ago

Management buyout at M&E specialist

£25m turnover Kimpton in second MBO in its 60-year history
3 days ago

BAM finalises £71m deal to replace first major RAAC school

Work to start on new St Leonards Catholic School in Durham
3 days ago

Scaffolder hit by two tonne weight at nuclear plant

Court hands out £633,000 in fines after Dungeness B decommissioning incident
3 days ago

Go-ahead for 860,000 sq ft East London medical campus

Whitechapel Road scheme of six new and repurposed buildings
3 days ago

Site labour rates hit record high as cost inflation returns

Industry's biggest payroll firm says rates rose nearly 5% last month in London
6 days ago

Morris & Spottiswood acquires part of ISG fit-out division

ISG Cathedral acquisition saves 111 jobs and expands presence across England
7 days ago

New work drives Q3 construction output uplift

Third quarter activity up 0.8% despite slowdown in September
6 days ago

Contractor services