FAMILY-owned Richardson Projects has become the latest construction business to show how it is benefiting from the public sector and social housing building boom.
Boss Alan Richardson said the Rochdale company had secured contracts worth more than £25m in January alone, and that its order book now stood at a record £85m.
The firm, which employs more than 300 staff, clinched deals in Greater Manchester, West and South Yorkshire last month worth a total of £26.8m.
They include a £2.8m contract from the
Willow Park Housing Trust
for flats in Wythenshawe, and a £4.5m agreement for a care facility in Hough Fold Way, Bolton, for
PfP Developments.
Richardson Projects, which is based at Willow Point, Bridgefold Road, was established by Mr Richardson and his wife Pat in 1983 and targets housing associations and local authorities to tap into the affordable homes market as well as education. Mr Richardson said the company, which competes against rivals such as
Keepmoat and
Lovell, was grabbing market share in its heartlands - the north west, Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Last month's successes also include projects in Bradford, Batley and Penistone, near Barnsley.
Turnover for the 12 months to August 31 is expected to be £58m, up from £48m last year.
"Our business plan is to increase by 20 per cent a year and we are geared up for that level of growth," said Mr Richardson.
"Our sector is more stable than others in the construction industry and we are expanding strongly in our chosen markets."
The firm's order book now stretches to 2009 and Mr Richardson is targeting revenues of around £90m by 2010.
Richardson Projects' success mirrors that of
Willmott Dixon's new northern division, which is based in Oldham.
It is benefiting from a spending boom on schools and leisure projects across the region, with orders worth £90m secured for the next two years.