Driver finds market healthier abroad than at home

Rossendale-based construction consultancy Driver is looking overseas for growth, it said in a trading statement today, with the UK market "remaining a challenge".

The group said trading continued at a small underlying loss in the second half of the year to the end of September. Driver finished the period with a net debt of £0.5m, below the market expectation of £1.2m.

The international business has "a strong pipeline of secured work, with levels for the year to 2011 already similar to those achieved in the current year."

The statement went on: "The group has now established a company in Africa with an office in South Africa and opened a fourth office in the Middle East in Qatar.

"The Group has traded in Africa on 4 significant projects providing services to substantial international organisations for both traditional dispute resolution and strategic project management services. In addition, the African business starts the new financial year with a strong pipeline of outstanding proposals and expressions of interest on major construction and infrastructure projects."

Back in the UK Driver has been appointed on the commercial consultants panel for Carillion and "is in final negotiations for a further similar appointment with another significant UK organisation."