Rok maintains construction growth
The building and maintenance division of Rok will see turnover grow by 30% in the North West this year, according to regional director Robert Bath.
Rok today reported record results for the year ended 31 December 2007 with revenue up 38% to £950.1m from £689.3m. Pre-tax profits were £31.7m, up 42% from £22.4m.
Bath said long-term insurance contracts for Lloyds TSB, Zurich and Royal & Sun Alliance produced £9m revenues in the past year.
He added: "If the results had been in a few weeks' time we could have announced two or three more insurance clients."
Rok employs 700 staff in the North West and is recruiting a dozen maintenance workers each month with no sign of a let-up, Bath added.
New build and refurbishment work for social housing landlords were also strong, Bath said, helping fend off the gloom of a slowing commercial market.
The separate development division recently put a freeze on new land acquisitions. However, current schemes such as the 37-acre Wilmslow Office Park, near Manchester Airport, are on site and remain on track. The first building will be completed towards the end of 2008 at Wilmslow, comprising seven self-contained units from 4,400 sq ft to 8,400 sq ft within a single courtyard building.
Space is available on a freehold basis at £275/sq ft or on a leasehold basis through agent DTZ.
Rok shares closed down 0.5p at 114.5p.
