Bowmer & Kirkland spies covert way to grow

Private builder Bowmer & Kirkland is banking on a boom in security and surveillance work to ride out the recession.

In the past year, the firm has spent around £12m buying several security and surveillance businesses in both the US and UK to bolster its security division.

Now Bowmer & Kirkland offers a full consultancy, design, manufacture and maintenance service for monitoring equipment for the police and government agencies.

Chairman John Kirkland said: "The directors believe that the synergy of the companies within the security division will lead to increased turnover and profitability in the UK and abroad."

In a statement in the latest company results, Kirkland said all divisions performed well in the year to 31 August, sending profits soaring 18% to £43.2m on sales up 7% to £894.6m.

He added: "Our housing division was the hardest hit due to the banking crisis, but remained profitable."

The highest-paid director's annual pay dropped to £6.7m from £8.6m the previous year.