REGIONALSURVEY

No contractor managed to come top in more than one region this month, though Kvaerner managed a first, second, fourth and sixth place. Tarmac secured a first, second and third, Bovis a first and third and Laing a first, second and fifth.

London and the South East continued to dominate the geographical spread of work in the UK. This region was easily topped by Taylor Woodrow thanks to its PFI hospital project in Kent. The region was dominated by private commercial work, with private industrial providing only £10 million.

The Midlands just pipped the North to second place with Bovis at the top, some £130 million ahead of nearest rival Birse. Private commercial work was so far ahead of any field one can only hope that the sector remains buoyant.

Northern England saw a rather more even spread of work through the different sectors, though Laing grabbed the top spot thanks to its private commercial orders.

Infrastructure work also pushed Tarmac to the top of the South West and Wales as well as proving the most lucrative area of work for the region.

The same sector naturally enabled Kvaerner to dominate the Scottish region. The firm will fabricate the huge North Sea oil platform for Texaco at its Methil yard.