Waterman orders at record level

PUBLIC sector spending has boosted the order-book of engineering consultants Waterman Group to record levels, the latest being a five-year contract to maintain trunk roads in the north of the capital, including the A1.

The contract from Transport for London includes only 5% of the roads in north London, but they are among the busiest, carrying 33% of the city's traffic. The group is involved already in the refurbishment of the Treasury in Whitehall and the overdue rescue of Paternoster Square.

Following its successful integration of Aspen Consulting, which cost £5.5m, the group now employs 1,150.

Managing director Bob Campbell plans further acquisitions and projects in Europe. In the six months to 31 December, pre-tax profits increased by 14% to £1.79m. The interim dividend rises to 5.4p from 4.8p.