Quarmby margins suffer

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Increased competition blunted margins at West Yorkshire contractor Quarmby Construction last year.

Revenue at the Ilkley-based business jumped 79 per cent to £39.7 million in the 12 months to September 2007. But pre-tax profits only inched up 1.5 per cent to £835,000.

In a statement accompanying the results filed at Companies House, the contractor admitted: "The company operates in an increasingly competitive construction industry which has impacted on the reported gross profit margin."

The number of people employed by the business increased by nearly one third to 68 which added £750,000 to its wages bill.

The highest paid director, who is not named, took home just over £250,000 – a rise of 14 per cent on last time.