Mansell gets efficient to succeed

Mansell has turned in record results for 1996 with pre-tax profits rising from œ1.2 million in 1995 to œ4.3 million, 37 per cent higher than the company's previous best in 1989. Turnover was up 22 per cent to œ142 million (œ116 million).

Executive director Geoffrey Bell attributed the company's success to a range of efficiency measures introduced over the last three years. "We are seeing the cumulative effect of those measures and our results have been getting better each year.

"The easing of the market has been limited and margin increases fairly small. We've stuck to what we are good at and have been more selective in what we take - the increased market has made that possible."

The firm has 10 regional construction offices and four specialist depots for maintenance management, contract decorating and plant hire. The London construction office has had a particularly successful year due to the growth in the private commercial sector.

The southern region has shaken off the effect of some troublesome contracts, while the Northern, North West and Midlands regions all had a good year.

Bell said the firm was pleased with the increased in turnover from its non-core specialist maintenance and plant companies. "They are still a small part of the total turnover, but they are an increasing one. Turnover in the Building and Maintenance Management company has doubled in the last 18 months."

Bell said the firm was quietly confident about its prospects for 1997.