CONSTRUCTION firm Rok reported a 75 per cent rise in half-year profits as it eyed further gains in a thriving building and maintenance market.

The Exeter-based business, which styles itself as the nation's local builder, said it had made a "very strong" start to 2007, adding that it expects its target markets to grow by four per cent a year for the next three years.

The company, which has boosted its order book by 49 per cent to £550m, unveiled pre-tax profits of £11.2m for the six months to June 30, marginally ahead of consensus market forecasts.

Rok has grown rapidly through acquisition of regional firms, including recent deals for Scottish contractor Tulloch and Nottingham-based builder Sol.

Group revenues soared 44 per cent to £434m after the acquisitions, while the firm's share price rose by nearly six per cent.

Busy

Rok's chief executive, Garvis Snook, said: "It has been a busy first half of the year for the Manchester-led operations of Rok.

"Our build team has also brought in some key new projects. These include the fit-out and extension of the Grand Arcade in Wigan, a second phase of fit-out and new build works at Wigan College, a new build warehouse in north Manchester and the construction of a new Travis Perkins depot in Wigan. Likewise, the maintenance division in the north west has had a great first half to the year, particularly in the Manchester and Preston areas."

The last 12 months have seen the Manchester office of Rok Development build a £150m development pipeline and scoop the title of `Up and Coming Property Company of the Year' in the North West Property Awards.

Rok also enjoyed like-for-like revenues growth of 20 per cent, besides the boost from recent deals. The company is now gaining more than half of its revenues from long-term framework contracts in social housing and education.

Operating profits from building increased 51 per cent to £9.5m, with an improvement in margins to 2.7 per cent.

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