Robertson Group annual results 2017-18

We have reported another year of solid growth across our 22 businesses.

Audited accounts to March 2018 confirmed that Robertson Group delivered increases of 33% in turnover (from £565m to £752m) and 18% in Profit before Tax (£26m to £30.8m).

56% of our turnover growth is attributed to large projects.

Major construction projects continued to dominate turnover increase and activity; however, we have also seen good opportunity and development in most of our regional businesses including Construction/FM/Capital Projects/Housing, Timber Engineering and Civil Engineering.

Robertson Major Projects is currently building the AECC (the new Exhibition and Conference Centre in Aberdeen) as contractor to Henry Boot Developments – this project will have a completed value of over £330m and will be the company's largest single project to date. The division only recently completed the £140m Macallan distillery project and is currently working with Boeing UK on a new £80m facility which will house new P-8 sub maritime search planes for the RAF. The division is also in the final stages of completing the new £64m Balfour Hospital in Orkney.

We have recently signed a 30-year framework deal with Eastbourne and Lewes Council, which will see further activity emerge in the South.

Robertson Facilities Management has also seen considerable growth over the year. Over recent months, the company has also taken over several ex Carillion contracts, which in turn has seen the recruitment of an additional 570 employees, bringing the Group total to over 3000.

The Group has also seen growth in its Civil Engineering business, which currently operates across Scotland. Working on roads/utilities and the energy sector, the business completed the year with a turnover just short of £20m and employees 81 staff directly.

Turnover in Robertson Timber Engineering has increased by 38.7 % taking its turnover to £15m over the year.

Robertson Homes and Partnership Homes (RPHL) each saw strong growth in the year. Both are forecasting increases in the current year and our Directors are enthusiastic over our plans in support of the housing businesses.

Following the creation of Newlands – the Robertson family office and ultimate holding company of the Robertson businesses at the end of 2017 – the Group has this year, in preparation for further growth, demerged Robertson Homes and RPHL from Robertson Group and together with a newly formed company (Robertson Living) has created Robertson Residential Group (RRG) which going forward will operate separately but alongside Robertson Group.

Housing across the market is becoming a larger and growing part of the Robertson business and our shareholders see this change as a further preparation for managing growth matching long-term plans for our business interests. The new Residential Group expects to create a turnover of around £200m in its first year.

The shareholders and directors across both groups continue to take a long-term view of the market against our broad business offering. It will address possible changes required in any of its businesses in order to respond to a relatively fluid market.

The public sector has been a major source of revenue and opportunity over the 52-year life of the business and despite BREXIT, the directors are confident that this will continue. All the businesses remain alert to the changing markets particularly that of our various public-sector clients.

We were an early player in the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) marketplace and benefitted from considerable growth and diversity and the permanent change coming from that period to the benefit of the industry, its supply chain and public-sector clients.

Robertson Capital Projects continues to be active and seek increasing investment in public sector opportunities. It has invested £4.9m in the Orkney Hospital project and will maintain and provide maintenance and management service over the 30 year concession period. Over the same period, the company has invested in a primary school in Perthshire and likewise in Bertha Park, an entirely new secondary school that will accommodate 1100 students and meet the needs of the whole of Bertha Park and the local community.

The company continues to invest in recruitment, training and development across its 22 businesses. Robertson employs 266 young people, has 63 employees working towards VQ's and supports 71 studying for further and professional studies qualifications. Robertson is one of the first employers in Scotland awarded Investors in Young people accreditation, recently reaccredited at the highest level IIYP Gold, complementing its Gold status for Investors in People. The Robertson Academy has been introduced, and this will enable the internal delivery of both technical and development training across the Group, driving the training agenda forward enabling the design and delivery of distinct Robertson content and the upskilling of all employees.

The board believes its structure and continual investment in its people will support its long-term, sustainable objectives in the future.