Contractor hails growth after best-ever results

A construction firm says “it is back where it should be” after a transformation plan and contract wins delivered its best-ever financial performance.

Esh Group saw annual pre-tax profits rise from £5 million to £15 million in latest accounts.

Turnover was 17 per cent better off at £311 million across 2025, with the privately-owned contractor additionally achieving its highest-ever cash balance with liquidity exceeding £58 million.

Officials at the business, based in Bowburn, near Durham City, say the numbers represent the “strongest financial performance in the company’s history” and leave it “poised for another successful year.”

The company – which is restoring the Tyne Bridge, revamping the former Eston Precinct and recently completed the £23 million Stockton Waterfront urban park – says the numbers were fuelled by “strong demand across core markets”, revealing it has “more than £2 billion of visibility in its forward order book over the next ten years.”

Chief executive Andy Radcliffe said: “Following the successful execution of a transformation undertaken over recent years, and the closing out of legacy contracts during 2024, the group entered 2025 from a position of increasing strength.

“As expected, demand within our core operating segments remained resilient, driving a significant increase in turnover, with both our housing and infrastructure divisions delivering strong performances.

“The level of profitability achieved is more appropriate for a business operating on our scale and in our chosen market segments.

“We are back to where we should be.”

Allied to its headline North East contracts, the contractor continued to expand across Yorkshire and the Humber, securing a place on YORhub’s civil engineering major works framework for the first time.

It also broke ground on a £7.9 million affordable home development on former care home land in Sheffield, worked on a £25 million affordable housing project in Bridlington, East Yorkshire and recently unveiled £3.1 million flood defence work on the outskirts of Rotherham.

Andy added: “Visibility of our future workload remains exceptionally strong, supported by long-term framework agreements and mutually beneficial, collaborative relationships.

“We continue to actively pursue additional opportunities within our core markets and are poised for another successful year.”

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