M&J Evans Construction Ltd, a leading UK groundworks and civil engineering contractor, announces a strong financial and operational performance in its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Key highlights

  • Turnover up 8% to £374.3m (FY24: £323.3m)
  • Operating profit up 2% to £8.7m (FY24: £5.1m)
  • Profit before tax up 112% to £8.0m (FY24: £3.8m)
  • Net assets increased to £58.6m (FY24: £52.3m)
  • Company order book grew 6.5% to £537.0m at the end of 2025 (FY24: £504.0m), with tender success rates improving to 28.2% (FY24: 25.3%)
  • Continued focus on growth, with the Eastern Counties region contributing £22.0m of year-end order book in its second year of trading (FY24: £17.8m); plans confirmed to open an eighth region in the South East during 2026.
  • Leadership transition completed, with Alex Clack appointed Chief Executive Officer, ensuring continuity of the Company’s strategy
  • Launched a bespoke groundworker apprenticeship scheme with the NHBC, reporting a 100% completion rate for its first cohort vs a 42% national average to tackle an ageing workforce
  • Outlook remains cautious given the wider macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds, but the Company’s fundamentals remain resilient

Financial overview

The Company delivered a positive financial performance in FY25 – despite the challenging market backdrop. Turnover increased 15.8% to £374.3 million (FY24: £323.3 million), while operating profit rose 70.2% to £8.7 million (FY24: £5.1 million), reflecting continued discipline on costs and progress in its average tender decision success rate.

EBITDA before exceptional items increased 19.0% to £16.7 million (FY24: £14.1 million). Profit before tax more than doubled to £8.0 million (FY24: £3.8 million). Net assets increased to £58.6 million (FY24: £52.3 million).

Regional growth continues, with Eastern Counties scaling into its second year

The Company’s Eastern Counties region, launched in FY24, delivered a steady performance in its second year of trading, increasing its contribution to the year-end order book to £22.0 million (FY24: £17.8m), and continuing to build on the strong client base and NHBC quality scores established in its first year.

Building on this success, the Company has confirmed plans to open its eighth region, in the South East, during 2026 with further expansion planned beyond that.

Across the wider Company, the order book grew 6.5% to £537.0 million (FY24: £504.0m), with the average tender decision success rate improving to 28.2% (FY24: 25.3%). Orders won during the year totalled £339.3 million (FY24: £330.0m).

Leadership transition and continued delivery against strategy

The Company announced that Alex Clack had been appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2026, succeeding Chris Southgate. Alex brings more than 25 years of experience in groundworks and civil engineering, including over 20 years at M&J Evans, having joined the business in 2003 as a Quantity Surveyor before progressing through the roles of Commercial Manager, Commercial Director and Managing Director of the Midlands region, and most recently as Chief Commercial Officer. During that time, he played a critical role in development of the Company’s strategy and his appointment ensures continuity of that alongside an ongoing focus on commercial discipline.

The Company continued to invest in its people during the year, including the launch of a bespoke groundworker apprenticeship scheme at its training depot – the first of its kind – in partnership with the NHBC in early 2025, with an initial cohort of 16 apprentices. The scheme reports a 100% completion rate for its first cohort of apprentices, against a 42% national average, with a post-qualification retention rate of 94%. In addition to the apprenticeship programme, MJE also welcomed its first Graduate Quantity Surveyors in summer 2025 and is planning its next graduate intake to further strengthen its talent pipeline. In the context of an ageing construction workforce and loss of EU workers, this will also help to ensure a skilled workforce across the UK and the long-term growth of the Company.

The Company also invested in its quality assurance function during the year, including an updated checklist, digital platform and revised quality assurance roadmap, which will deliver best practice as standard and see tangible improvements in planning, forecasting and quality control.

M&J Evans Construction Ltd has also taken its first steps into the utilities sector to pursue network upgrade work for those serving water, gas and electricity to the UK, alongside final mile utility connection works supporting its existing housebuilder client base. The Company has built a strong track record so far, generating £5.5 million in revenue in FY25. This represents a deliberate diversification into a new sector, countering housebuilding cyclicality and supported by sustained government investment in utility network infrastructure with a resilient pipeline. The Company views this as an important long-term growth avenue and a further demonstration of its strategy in action.

Outlook

The business enters 2026 in a resilient position, notwithstanding a mixed near-term backdrop. Although uncertainty around timing remains and geopolitical tension and fuel price spikes have halted any further interest rate cuts, demand for new build residential property remains resilient. Steady sales rates are being reported by housebuilders and the business anticipates increases in house sales as build rates start to recover during the second half of 2026.

The Company’s fundamentals remain strong: a healthy, growing order book, robust balance sheet, and continued delivery against its strategic priorities, position M&J Evans Construction well to navigate near-term uncertainty and capture opportunities as market conditions improve. The business also remains focused on self help measures to provide resilience, including renewed focus on overhead control, working capital management and strong cash collection. This resilience is underpinned by continued cost discipline and by diversifying the Company’s revenue base, including its recent entry into the utilities sector, reducing reliance on housebuilding volumes.

Alex Clack, Group CEO, M&J Evans, commented:

“FY25 was a year of strong financial and operational delivery for M&J Evans, with significant growth in profitability and continued progress against our five-year strategy. I’m proud of the momentum we’ve maintained in delivering our strategy, from the continued scaling of our Eastern Counties region to the launch of our NHBC apprenticeship programme and our broader plans for launching into the utilities sector.

“Having spent over 20 years with this business, I understand its strengths, its people and its strategy intimately. While the wider market backdrop remains uncertain, our order book, balance sheet and operational discipline give me real confidence in our ability to deliver for our clients and continue our growth journey.”