Profits at construction and infrastructure group Morgan Sindall surged in the first six months of this year.
It reported pre-tax profits for the half-year of £13 million, up from £1m the year previous, despite a 2% overall fall in revenues to £998m.
The firm which was involved in upgrading Perth’s Murray Royal Hospital and completed a £67m extension to the Perth prison campus said it had seen a general increase in market activity in the period, with its order book moving ahead 14% to £2.7 billion.
New work orders include a five-year framework agreement with Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission for joint venture company MSVE Transmission to carry out a range of overhead line works, and a £1.2m contract to deliver part of a new 1MW hydro power scheme for the Perth-based specialists Green Highland Renewables.
CEO John Morgan said: “For the remainder of 2014, the operating environment for general construction is expected to remain challenging, with no easing of pressure on margins.
“However, with continued positive momentum anticipated within both Fit Out and Urban Regeneration, the group remains on track to deliver results for the full year in line with the board’s expectations,” he added.