Turnover for the year to 31st March 2025 at John F Hunt Group was up 8% at 拢193.3m (2024: 拢179.0m). This generated a gross margin of 16.1% (2024: 17.5%), culminating in operating profit of 拢4.9m (2024: 拢7.6m).
However, there was a 拢5.1m exception charge taken due to the collapse of a client 鈥� a major London-based hotel developer 鈥� leaving contractors high and dry. This meant that the final pre-tax profit was just 拢101,000 (2024: 拢7.9m).
Over the past five years John F Hunt Group has grown every year, from an 拢81m turnover in 2021. However, turnover is expected to be down this year because of delays to several large projects, finance director Ian Saville said in the company鈥檚 annual report.
The largest division, John F Hunt Ltd, increased turnover to 拢102.4m (2024: 拢89.2m) and made a pre-tax profit of 拢1.6m... before the aforementioned 拢5.1m exceptional charges.
John F Hunt Regeneration grew turnover to 拢83.5m (2024: 拢78.4m), making an operating profit of 拢3.3m (2024: 拢5.0m).
The asbestos consultancy business had a difficult year, making a loss of 拢366,000 on 拢4.9m turnover. 鈥淭he company continues to demonstrate its strong reputation for quality in a very competitive market place with surveying rates continually being squeezed,鈥� Saville wrote.
Ownership if the group transitioned to an employee ownership trust (EOT) in October 2024. During the year to March 2025, the directors made contributions of 拢5.56m to the EOT.
The group had net cash in hand at year-end of 拢29.7m (2024: 拢31.2m).