Last updated 10 January 2023
Byrne Group
Byrne Group is a multi-disciplinary construction group based in and operating across southern England. Formed in 1969 as Byrne Brothers by Patsy and Johnny Byrne, the group established itself as a leading concrete frame contractor and subsequently expanded into other areas, including fit-out, refurbishment, housebuilding, consulting and main contracting through organic growth and, starting in 1977, acquisitions.
In 2017, a controlling stake in Byrne was bought by South African construction company Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO). Byrne Group turns over more than £150 million a year and employs more than 200 people.
Financials
After falling away in the last two years, turnover rebounded in the 12 months to June 2021 and reached £152.7 million (2021: £142.7 million).
Byrne traded at a loss in 2018 but returned to the black the following year and has remained profitable since. In 2022, profits at an operating level increased to £6.2 million (2021: £5.0 million) and before tax, profits rose to £6.4 million (2021: £5.2 million).
To view the financials for Byrne Group Plc, visit Companies House and use Company ID 01100323.
Operations
Byrne Bros (Formwork)
This division is one of the UK’s leading reinforced concrete specialists and prefabricates and assembles reinforced steel cages and mats at its own factory. Byrne Bros (Formwork) also works in joint venture with Integrated Building Products, which is an independent company that specialises in design for manufacture and assembly.
Byrne works for major contractors such as Mace, Multiplex and Skanska on blue chip projects, particularly in London, such as Google’s new £1 billion headquarters (Project ID: 10394495) and the £500 million Peninsula Hotel (Project ID: 12069945).
After rise in revenue in the previous year, challenging trading conditions saw turnover slump to £73 million (2021: £114 million) and operating profits slipped to £4.7 million (2021: £5.0 million).
Ellmer Construction
This business was acquired in 1977 and specialises in fit out, refurbishment and new developments across London and the Home Counties. Clients include Aberdeen Asset Management, Goldsmiths University and Selfridges and recent major projects include the £30 million Elephant Park Plot for Lendlease (Project ID: 21076634). After a fall in the previous year, turnover rebounded strongly in 2022 to £80 million (2021: £29 million) but operating profits slipped to £1.4 million (2021: £1.7 million).
Byrne Group Residential
Formerly known as Ellmer Homes, this division is Byrne’s private residential housebuilding operation.
Touchwood Joinery
Touchwood is a specialist joinery business that was set up in 1995 and bought by Byrne in 2003. Based in Camberwell, this business offers joinery solutions to group businesses and external clients.
Thorn Plant Hire
Byrne acquired a stake in Thorn Plant Hire in 1989. This holding grew to 77.5% before William and Nolan Byrne acquired a 92.5% stake through Rathbawn Properties. In the year to May 2021, turnover slipped to £4.8 million (2020: £4.9 million) and pre-tax profits fell back to £0.3 million (2021: £0.4 million).
Modular and Consulting
Byrne Group owned Consult BG, a consulting wing offering specialist project management skills, and IBP, which offered modular frame solutions but this business was dissolved in 2017.
Glenigan Data
After dropping out of Glenigan’s top 100 ranking of main contractors in 2016, Byrne returned in 2017 and maintained this position through 2018 only to drop out again in 2019 and the group has not returned.
In 2022, Byrne’s order book was £76 million (2021: £60 million) but Glenigan’s research shows no evidence of planning activity for new homes.
Conclusion: Ready for the rebound
Despite rebounding in 2022 revenue remains 18% below the level achieved in 2020, when the industry was in the throes of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the bottom line has surpassed the figure from two years earlier.
The increase in revenue was driven by Ellmer with the core Byrne Bros operation suffering from challenging trading conditions, and the bottom line was protected as the group addressed its cost base.
After cuts of 9% in 2020 and 26% in 2021, Byrne reduced the workforce again in the latest year with a cut of 10% to an average of 219 people (2021: 244 people). This helped slash 10% off the wage bill to £17.4 million (2021: £19.4 million).
Going forward, the group has work on the £48 million Regent’s Wharf development in Islington, north London (Project ID: 17001579) and the £151 million Turing Building (Project ID: 15408395). The group is also pursuing work with Highways England and on the HS2 rail link and is working in the energy recovery sector on major projects. Successes in this sector include the £60 million Rookery South ERF project in Bedford (project ID: 10029772) and the £250 million Newhurst Energy from Waste Facility in Loughborough (Project ID: 10022823).
The order book has not been disclosed and the health of the London commercial market will influence trading but the Area Central SCS JV and BBV packages on HS2 and work for the Atomic Weapons Establishment will bolster revenue. Cash at the bank also strengthened significantly to £48.6 million (2021: £31.5 million) and the group is in a strong position as the industry grapples with uncertainties in the wider economy.
Winning Work With Byrne Group
Byrne is a member of the Considerate Constructors scheme, is accredited to ISO 9001 and has achieved BES 6001 for the responsible sourcing of construction products. In 2009, Byrne was named sustainable contractor of the year. The group runs a vertically integrated supply chain. Relationships with many key subcontractors are longstanding.
Byrne aims to embrace system and component-led construction methods, such as Design for Manufacture (Dfm), to combat poor quality and a shrinking skill base in the industry. The group also aims to understand progress, trend and potential future scenarios and believes in visibility of these key performance indices and tailoring particular needs for integration with client performance measures. The group operates within the requirements of environmental ISO 14001 and is also accredited to FSC and PEFC in relation to sustainable and renewable timber resources.
Key Byrne Group procurement contacts include:
Byrne Bros (Formwork) executive director – Don Houston, tel: 020-8973-0100
Donald.Houston@byrne-bros.co.uk
Byrne Bros estimating director – Alan Toms, tel: 020-8973-0100
Byrne Bros senior buyer – Richard Caine, tel: 020-8973-0100
Richard.caine@byrne-bros.co.uk
Ellmer Construction estimating director – John Darcy, tel: 020-8943-5252