Chairman Bill Robertson said that the group’s diverse portfolio had protected it from the worst effects of the recession.
Commenting on the results for the year ending 4 April 2011, Mr Robertson said: “I’m delighted to present a positive set of results for Robertson Group Limited in what has been an exceptionally challenging trading period. We are near to concluding a three year programme of change to reshape and refocus the group in response to a rapidly changing marketplace, and an uncertain economic outlook.
“To simplify the group structure and improve the transparency of financial reporting to our stakeholders, we took the decision to consolidate all of the group’s core trading businesses under the single entity Robertson Group Limited, and our latest results reflect that change.
“We are now very focussed on leveraging our core competence and extensive experience in investment, construction and facilities management services. We have slightly reduced our traditional involvement in house building and property development reflecting the prevailing market conditions, however these skills are now being utilised to deliver new products and services such as regeneration projects.
“We’ve now focussed the group on bringing all its competencies together into a full infrastructure asset management offering, where we continue to see good opportunities in both the public and private sectors for long term growth.”
The company has also secured a further two year extension to its main banking facilities with RBS.
Mr Robertson added: “As a group we’re relatively well protected from short term market volatility by virtue of our diverse portfolio and the long term nature of a number of our investments and operating contracts, a factor which has served us well through the current recession. We operate throughout the UK and have substantial investments in 63 schools and 11 hospitals as well as numerous community based facilities. Our FM business continues to grow and now employs 600 people and has secured pipeline of contracts totalling around £1bn over the next 25 years.
“In construction we have continued to make excellent progress further growing the business by securing a number of major projects, such as the new £80m Aberdeen Emergency Care Centre, and a £42m whisky warehouse refurbishment for Chivas Brothers at Mulben.
“During the year I also took the opportunity to strengthen my board with the appointment of Andrew Cowan as group CEO, and will strengthen the management team further in the coming year.
“We continue to invest in our people and now employ a workforce of 1100 directly and many hundreds more in our supply chain, with a big emphasis on training and development. We are confident that this approach will underpin our continued growth, as well as providing long term secure employment.
"Overall there is no doubt it’s been a challenging year, but one in which we have made significant strategic progress.”
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