With offices in Gloucester, construction giant Kier Group is expecting its order book to increase 26 per cent on the previous year.

Kier Group said it expects its results for the year to end-June 2022 to meet its expectations, with core markets remaining favourable and the order book growing strongly.

The infrastructure services, construction and property group said it is confident it will be able to continue to mitigate against strong inflationary pressures going forward.

Andrew Davies, chief executive officer of Kier Group, said: "Kier delivered a strong operational performance over the last year, despite inflation and political uncertainties. Core markets remain favourable and we continue to maximise value and opportunities.

"This, coupled with the strong order book and strengthened balance sheet, gives the Board confidence in our medium-term value creation plan and the continued success of the Group."

Kier Construction has a county base in Quedgeley and the firm is the main contractor appointed for Phase Two of The Forum in Gloucester.

Kier said its year-end order book is expected to be in excess of £9.7bn, a rise of 26% on the previous year, following a large number of contract wins.

It has already secured 85 per cent of revenue for the financial year 2023, giving it a degree of certainty against a backdrop of uncertainty in the wider market.

Recent awards include £560m maintenance work and services contracts for North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils for seven years; a Kier BAM joint venture appointed by Babcock International on a refurbishment project at Devonport's 10 dock facility in Plymouth; and awarded a place on Northern Ireland Water's £1.2bn Major Projects Partnership Framework in a joint venture with BAM for four years.

Construction-wise, Kier has secured a £500m contract to deliver new houseblock buildings across six prisons with Wates; and awarded a pre-construction services agreement to deliver HMP Glasgow, a new prison on a 54-acre site in Scotland.

The group said it is confident of achieving its medium-term targets of £4bn-£4.5bn and 3.5 per cent adjusted profit margin.