1 July 2005
White Young Green, consultant to the built, natural and social environment, is pleased to provide this pre-close period trading update for the financial year ending 30th June, 2005. This statement confirms important new contract awards, the continued success of recent acquisitions, including IMC Consulting, and a further strengthening of the order book.
Market conditions continue to be favourable and the Group expects profit before tax and goodwill amortisation for the year to 30th June, 2005, to be significantly ahead of the same period last year and in line with current market expectations.
Recent contract wins provide further visibility of future earnings with order book now equivalent to more than two years net turnover at £230m, an increase of 15% on this time last year. Major projects awarded to WYG in the period since the announcement of interim results on 1st March 2005 include the following:-
• A €10m EU funded contract secured by IMC Consulting to manage the modernisation of municipal administration throughout Syria utilising, for the first time, many of WYG’s traditional infrastructure, environmental and property related skills. The project focuses on strengthening the role, responsibility and capacity of local government in Syria in areas such as urban planning, property management, public-private partnerships, economic development, integrated public transport strategies, solid waste management and sustainability policies. It applies best practice from across Europe to six pilot cities over an initial 42 month delivery period. As a consequence of this and other project wins the order book for IMC Consulting has increased from £21m at the time of acquisition to its current position of more than £36m.
• An appointment by the University of York to provide wide ranging project management, environmental, engineering and other masterplanning services associated with a new £500m campus on the 70 hectare Heslington site. WYG’s duties on the project include the preparation of a detailed infrastructure design guide for the development which will address issues such as sustainability, utility services provision, building services strategy, energy management, landscape design and risk management. First occupancy on the site, which will house 7,400 students and staff, is scheduled for 2008.
A four year framework contract to provide town planning consultancy services to the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). Services to be provided under the commission will be wide ranging and will include advice on specific major development proposals, through planning application and planning policy work to the presentation of public enquiry evidence on behalf of SWRDA.
