Morgan Sindall predicts record £69m pre-tax profit

Morgan Sindall remains on track to haul in a record pre-tax profit of £69m for the year to 31 December 2008, it has told the City.

The company said it was on course for a turnover of £2.4bn for the year.

Meanwhile it revealed that its forward order book stands at £3.8bn.

However it warned that its fit-out arm, Overbury, would start to feel the effects of the downturn in 2009, despite a strong performance this year.

In a trading statement, the company said: "Our strength in the education and healthcare sectors in particular should help us to benefit from government plans to bring forward public spending in these areas."

More than 70% of Morgan Sindall's workload comes from the public sector.