Turnover up but weather hits Harte

Profits at Bothwell-based WJ Harte Construction slumped by 55 per cent to £159,000 in the year to 31 May following "the worst weather ever reported during January and February 2010".

Heavy snow forced the civil engineering company - which lists Bellway, Dawn Homes and Taylor Wimpey among its clients - to close most of its sites, adding to the recession's effects on the construction industry.

Accounts filed at Companies House show that turnover from continuing operations rose by 2.5 per cent to 43 million, despite the fall in pre-tax profit.

The overall revenue figure fell from 54.4m after two of the firm's divisions were combined with RJT Pennant, another company in the overall Harte Group.

Staff numbers were cut from 767 to 604, with 88 of the workers transferring to RJT Pennant. The highest-paid director's package fell by 2,000 to 104,000.

In February 2010, the company bought G&B Road Markings from owners George and Mary Murchison for 610,000 and merged the company with Harte's existing street lighting and road signs businesses.

Writing in the accounts, director Graham Shankland said: "The steps taken to secure more general civil engineering work and reduce direct overhead costs have helped the company to remain profitable."