Sir Robert McAlpine to cut up to 60 jobs

Sir Robert McAlpine is set to slash more than 50 jobs amid a major reshuffle of the business.

The contractor, which had a turnover of £937.2m in the year to 31 October 2021, said it had started 30-day redundancy consultations, as it looked to reduce headcount by 2.5 per cent.

Sir Robert McAlpine employed an average of 2,158 people in the period related to its latest results, and a spokesperson confirmed that up to 60 roles could be axed. No detail was given of the positions under threat, but the contractor said no “project-based” jobs would be affected.

The Hertfordshire-headquartered firm – which has nine bases across England – set out plans to implement a fresh strategy from 1 May onward.

From this date, the builder of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium will “evolve its offering” to meet changing customer needs, as part of a vision to become “renowned for work with clients and communities”.

Sir Robert McAlpine said it would prioritise work in its most successful sectors, which it listed as including healthcare, offices, industrial, and schemes delivered by its major and special projects team.

This appears to mean a back seat for education, retail and build-to-rent jobs, although the spokesperson said contracts in these areas would still be pursued where the “project and client are right”. The firm will also look to grow the rail, transport and nuclear parts of its infrastructure business.

The strategic overhaul will switch the business away from a regional operating model toward sector-focused delivery, with national “centres of excellence” to serve projects.

Chief executive Paul Hamer (pictured) stressed the need to remain “agile” and adapt to “evolving market conditions”.

“The challenges that the industry is currently facing are exceptional and unprecedented,” he said. “In this turbulent market, we owe it to our people and our clients to carefully consider how we apply our focus and expertise over the coming years to seize the opportunities that will support us to thrive.

“These changes are needed to enhance our operational agility. They mean we can move rapidly while generating improved efficiency and productivity. This does unfortunately result in a small number of roles becoming redundant, which is a difficult but necessary decision.

“This strategy provides the momentum to take Sir Robert McAlpine successfully into the next 150 years. It enables us to build on our existing strengths and realise our full potential.”

Sir Robert McAlpine reported a pre-tax profit of £9.2m for the 12 months to 31 October 2021, following a loss in the prior year.

The firm was recently picked to deliver the £500m Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus scheme for the University of Bristol.