Murphy has reported record financial performance in its 75th anniversary year, underpinned by strong growth across its energy and infrastructure operations, rising investment in UK and Irish networks, and a growing pipeline of major projects pushing its order book beyond £8bn for the first time.
The family-owned contractor increased revenue by 13% to nearly £1.6bn in 2025, while operating profit rose 8% to a record £86m. Cash reserves strengthened significantly, reaching £412m, reinforcing what is already considered one of the strongest balance sheets in the sector.
The company entered 2026 with an order book of £8.17bn, up 12% year-on-year, supported by major opportunities across energy, transport and utilities. Operating margins also improved from 6.3% to 6.7%, reflecting Murphy’s continued focus on disciplined bidding and risk management.
Chief executive John Murphy said: “This year marks the 75th anniversary of my grandfather founding our business, so it is fitting that we have delivered a year of progressive growth across the company.
“While mindful of potential market uncertainty, we look forward to the future with confidence as the sectors and geographies we work in require significant ongoing investments to support asset renewals, population growth, increased energy demand and sustainability targets.”
Growth during the period was driven primarily by increased activity across Murphy’s UK energy division and its Irish operations, as investment accelerated in electricity transmission, renewable energy infrastructure and major transport schemes.
The contractor achieved a series of significant project milestones, including the early opening of Beaulieu Park station, the commencement of works under SSE’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework, and the start of design and enabling works on the Lower Thames Crossing tunnelling programme.
Other key activity included the completion of all trenchless crossings and ducting works on the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone project, alongside continued delivery of National Grid’s Yorkshire Green Energy Enablement programme, which remains the largest substation contract ever awarded to Murphy.
International expansion also featured in the year’s performance, with Murphy acquiring a 40% stake in Australian infrastructure contractor Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, marking a strategic entry into a new market.
Workforce growth continued in line with the expanding workload, with employee numbers rising 16% to 4,709 following the recruitment and onboarding of 1,028 new staff during the year.
