Kier reports strong start to fiscal year as order book rises

(Sharecast News) - Construction group Kier on Thursday reported a strong start to the 2025/26 fiscal year, with its order book growing to around £11.6bn, up from £11bn at the end of June, driven by recent contract wins. Kier said 94% of expected revenue was now secured, with performance anticipated to be weighted to the second half, in line with prior years.

Notable wins for its infrastructure unit include a £700m highways and infrastructure contract with Norfolk County Council, which will run for up to 14 years from April 2026, the company said in a trading update issued ahead of its annual general meeting.

In construction, Kier will deliver £205m of reservoir works for United Utilities and four school schemes worth around £190m. It was also awarded a £116m Ministry of Justice contract to build 240 prison places at HMP Lancaster Farms, under the Small Secure Houseblocks Programme alliance.

"The construction and refurbishment of key areas such as transport, education, healthcare, justice, defence and nuclear form a key part of the new UK government's investment priorities. As a major supplier in all these areas they should, alongside the significant investment in regulated industries such as the water sector, provide significant growth opportunities in the medium-term," the company said.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com