Briggs & Forrester has entered the new financial year with a record £511m order book after a stronger operational performance and growing demand from contractors seeking dependable M&E delivery partners on major schemes.
The Northampton-based building services specialist said its forward workload now provides around two years of secured and near-secured work, underlining confidence in the business despite challenging market conditions across the wider construction sector.
The pipeline has increased by 18% from last year’s £435m total and comprises £221m of secured contracts alongside a further £290m currently in final negotiation stages.
The group said the strengthened position already accounts for 89% of budgeted turnover for the coming year and 72% for the year after that.
The improved visibility came even as annual turnover slipped by 3% to £240m in the year ending 31 October 2025.
However, a sharper focus on project selection, procurement discipline and operational delivery helped lift underlying profit before impairment and tax from £2.3m to £3.2m.
The contractor said its strategy has centred on securing higher-quality projects with established clients, developers, end users and tier one contractors seeking reliable long-term delivery capability.
Key current and future project partners include Galliford Try, Willmott Dixon, McLaren Construction and Multiplex.
Jeremy Askew, group finance director at Briggs & Forrester, said: “This year’s performance reflects the strength of our underlying business and the discipline shown across all parts of the Group.
“Despite a small reduction in turnover, we delivered a significant improvement in profitability, strengthened our cash position, and achieved a record order book that gives us excellent visibility for the next two years.”
The company’s cash position improved to £23.3m during the year, despite making £5.8m of Employee Ownership Trust payments.
Briggs & Forrester said all three of its core operating divisions remained profitable, generated cash and increased net assets over the reporting period.
Its Engineering Services division increased profit by around a third while maintaining turnover close to £100m, supported by tighter project controls and more selective bidding.
The Living division delivered growth in both turnover and profitability, with its order book climbing by 67%, giving the business visibility stretching into the next two to three years.
Meanwhile, the Special Projects arm experienced a significant reduction in turnover but remained profitable through strict overhead management and improved commercial performance.
The accounts also revealed a £5.5m disposal gain following the sale of Briggs & Forrester Building Services Maintenance to BGIS in December 2024.
The transaction generated £6m in net cash proceeds, further strengthening the group’s reserves and balance sheet as it enters the new financial year with its strongest ever secured workload.
