Chartered surveyor Bruton Knowles has seen record growth within its Utilities and Infrastructure (U&I) Team over the last 12 months, with profits soaring by 20%.
Despite a challenging economic environment, the team has expanded across the UK, breaking further into areas such as East Anglia.
The level of work coming into the team from East Anglia prompted the opening of a new hub in Bury St Edmunds in 2024, as well as a local recruitment drive which saw team numbers rise to around 100.
Nigel Billingsley, Head of Utilities & Infrastructure North Team, said of the achievement: “This record growth of a year-on-year 20% increase in turnover that we have experienced over the last 12 months reflects the hard work and expertise of the wider U&I team in navigating such a complex market.
“While many in the industry have paused to reassess amidst economic uncertainties, we’ve remained focused on delivering value to our clients and securing key opportunities.
“It hasn’t always been straightforward – we’ve seen a large number of delays in tenders and projects which have created challenges – but this growth demonstrates our resilience and commitment to providing our customers with the best possible service.”
Nigel sees a lot of the slowdown and delays in projects experienced last year, due to hesitancy around 2024’s elections, with the General Election and Presidential Election in the UK and USA respectively, having a huge impact on firms across the sector. He sees the recent movement of companies scaling back on renewable investment as being linked to the re-election of President Trump, and a shift back towards profitability.
Rising costs and supply chain issues are also contributing factors to the reconsideration of renewable projects – as is the difficulty in hooking them up to the National Grid, here in the UK.
But Nigel is optimistic that 2025 will see continued growth for his team – with some ambitious targets to be met.
Nigel added: “With key hires and strategic investments, we’ve solidified our presence in new markets, strengthening our ability to serve our existing clients across the UK.
“While growth in early 2024 was tempered by delays in some anticipated contracts, the department’s profitability and turnover increased hugely by the year’s end.
“Looking ahead, the Utilities and Infrastructure Team is focused on securing major tenders that will provide a platform for sustained growth in 2025 and beyond.
“We remain optimistic about our ability to navigate uncertainties, including recruitment challenges and broader economic factors.”
