BAM ‘maintaining turnover’ in North West

Steve Byrne, regional director of BAM Construction, is confident revenue levels are holding steady despite the tough climate, as the company confirmed another contract win.

BAM has performed strongly in the region in the face of stiff competition in the past couple of years, winning work with Neptune and Countryside at Mann Island in Liverpool, the Co-operative Group HQ in Manchester, Bolton College, West Chester College in Chester, BAE Samlesbury, South Cheshire College in Crewe and Liverpool Community College among others.

Byrne said: "We are able to maintain trading levels on those current projects. However, there are clearly fewer large contracts out there and the average size is between £2m and £20m, whereas a big job used to be £100m now it is £30m."

Without wanting to divulge North West figures, Byrne said UK turnover was £1.13bn in 2009, with profit at £29.9m at a margin of 2.63% and this margin is holding firm.

Byrne also added: "There are early signs the private sector might be turning around for the better."

BAM has secured a contract to build Trafford Youth Village The Fuse Project in Partington, Manchester on behalf of West Trafford Development Company. This is a £4m scheme which has been funded by the Big Lottery under the myplace initiative.

Over a 44-week programme, BAM will build a two-storey leisure building to house a large auditorium for a variety of functions, including the provision of formal youth services, a place to meet, a venue for theatre, dance and film as well as provide a base for outside pursuits. The Client team consists of Ellis Williams Architects, Doyle Partnership Structural Engineers, Steven A Hunt Services Consultants and AA Projects as quantity surveyor.

The project will now be constructed by the site team consisting of Simon Atkinson, Hayley Gilmore and Mark Davies with design assistance from Constance Goullard. The project was secured against tough competition consisting of Wates, Rok, Millers, Bardsley and Interserve.