Civils stays in the frame with highways clients

Turnover in the civils division has moved ahead to £53m, helping Wrekin battle to stay ahead of clients' ever-rising interest threshold. More than 40% of the civils work came from framework and partnered schemes.

"We do see the direction of the Highways Agency's (HA) procurement policy as a threat but it is not a problem," said John Evans.

"We'd prefer to expand fast enough to stay in the frame in our own right."

Last week North Midland Construction reported that it would in future be working on HA roads contracts as a subcontractor to the Alfred McAlpine-Scott Wilson consortium rather than a main contractor in its own right.

Wrekin has a two-year Midlands framework contract worth £9.5m consisting of major maintenance, reconstruction of motorways and trunk roads. There is also a couple of partnered contracts with the HA and Worcestershire County Council worth £5m and £5.2m respectively.

A bridge refurbishment contract with Peterborough City Council is worth £1.5m over five years and calls for the maintenance of 18 bridges. Wrekin has received £1.9m from a contract to reline the M4 Brynglas Tunnel, which it completed five weeks early.