Record year for Esh
The North of England contractor saw 2025 pre-tax profits rise to £15m, up from £5m in the previous year, while turnover grew by 17% to £311m, marking the strongest financial performance in the company’s history.
Esh has had strong demand from its core markets of housing and infrastructure, and has maintained a portfolio centred on work for local authorities, utility and environmental companies, registered affordable housing providers, and the private housing sector.
Turnover was up by £46m from £264m in 2024, with gross profit margins increasing to 10.7%.
Esh also achieved its highest ever cash balance, with liquidity exceeding £58m, after making its largest ever annual investment in plant, machinery and vehicles, as well as technology and operational systems.
Throughout the year, Esh continued to expand across Yorkshire and the Humber, securing its place on YORhub’s civil engineering major works framework for the first time, and has further developed its land-led housing delivery model.
Within the North East, Esh renewed its place as a primary supplier on the North East Procurement Organisation’s civil engineering and infrastructure framework.
Highlights of the year include:
- Anchoring its position as a key delivery partner across various frameworks for Northumbrian Water Group throughout the AMP 8 programme and experiencing significant growth in the wastewater and environmental sector;
- Reaching the halfway point in the restoration of the Tyne Bridge;
- Recently handing over Stockton Waterfront urban park, marking the completion of one of the North East’s most significant regeneration schemes;
- Within its housing division, Esh is set to deliver almost 2,000 new affordable homes for registered providers across the North East and Yorkshire, helping to support the urgent need for social housing.
Chief executive Andy Radcliffe said: “Following the successful execution of a strategic transformation undertaken over recent years and the closing out of legacy contracts during 2024, the Group entered 2025 from a position of increasing strength.
“As expected, demand within our core operating segments remained resilient, driving a significant increase in turnover, with both our housing and infrastructure divisions delivering strong performances.
“This, underpinned by our guiding principles of securing work with the right client, at the right price and under the right contract, has heavily contributed to our record year, enabling us to deliver profitable growth and strengthen our market position.
“The level of profitability achieved is more appropriate for a business operating on our scale and in our chosen market segments. We are back to where we should be.
“Our strategic focus on key, long-term frameworks, alongside maintaining our status as a trusted delivery partner has created a strong foundation for sustainable growth during the year.
“It has also delivered stronger pipeline certainty, providing more than £2bn of visibility within our forward order book over the next 10 years.
“Our prudent approach to working capital and cash management, and disciplined commercial controls, has seen us strengthen our liquidity position year-on-year – giving the group significant resilience and flexibility to support future growth opportunities.
“Our investment in plant and machinery has enabled us to improve operational efficiency and self-delivery capability whilst importantly, enhancing the service we can deliver to our clients.
“Looking ahead, visibility of our future workload remains exceptionally strong, supported by long-term framework agreements and mutually beneficial, collaborative relationships with our valued clients and trusted supply chain partners, for whom we remain extremely grateful.
“We continue to actively pursue additional opportunities within our core markets and are poised for another successful year.
“2025’s performance is clear evidence that our strategically designed business model has given the group solid foundations for sustainable long-term growth. This success though, is built on the strength of our people, who work exceptionally hard to delight our clients and live our values each day. I am immensely proud of what they have, and continue to achieve.”
