Mouchel is prepared for Amey uncertainty

Support services group Mouchel has said that all of its joint venture roads contracts with Amey are profitable, but there has been "lots of contingency planning" to cover the possibility of Amey's corporate collapse.

Business development director Stuart Black said: "We are comfortable that Amey is the right partner for us. Should we need another, there are plenty of contenders out there."

The Highways Agency (HA) is not worried about Amey, announcing in January that the Mouchel/Amey jv had won the Managing Agent Contractor contract for Area 13.

"Actions speak louder than words," said Black. "The contract has an annual value to Mouchel of £7.5m for five years, excluding extensions. This is the fifth contract in succession won by the jv and continues its 100% bidding win record with the HA for this round of tenders."

Mouchel's financial results (six months to 31 January) showed turnover ahead at £67m (£46m) with pre-tax profit rising to £2.4m (£1.5m).

The group plans action when further highway network management PFI projects, led by local authorities, come to life in nine months time. "We will throw our hat into the ring when the Birmingham City Council project comes through," said Black. Mouchel would probably operate in jv with Raynesway.

Mouchel has taken care not to follow rival consultant WS Atkins into some new ventures. "There are areas we won't touch and low margin facilities management is one of these," said Black.