Newly formed HBC is aiming to triple the amount of revenue it previously made as a subsidiary within its first year.
In an update cementing its standalone performance, the contractor, formerly known as Henry Boot Construction, revealed it had secured £112m of work for 2026 and is forecasting £120m turnover this year.
Looking forward, it told Construction News it already had a further £100m of projects with pre-contract agreements lined up for 2027.
Sheffield-based HBC officially began trading alone on 31 December 2025 after Henry Boot agreed a £4m deal to dispose of the entire share capital in a management buyout last September.
Results published last week by its former parent company revealed that during 2025 the subsidiary’s turnover rose 43 per cent to £71.15m from £50m and pre-tax profit reached £1.24m, marking a sharp turnaround from a £1.65m loss the previous year.
It is now on track for a bumper first year as an independent operation.
Managing director Lee Powell told CN: “It is almost too good to be true.
“Apart from geopolitical risk, we are in a really good position. We have 14 live projects on site and none are loss-making. Normally you would have one or two but all are in the black.”
Under the sale agreement, Henry Boot is entitled to additional payments if HBC achieves a net margin above 3 per cent within the next five years.
“I think we will reach the 3 per cent in the future but we do not want to take the business above £150m,” Powell said.
“We are proud to be a tier two contractor, we are realistic, we know our clients and they get the best.”
Based on its current pipeline, combined with an exemption from any legacy project claims through the terms of the management buyout, HBC said it expects further increases in profitability in addition to its forecast turnover.
James Smith, finance director at HBC, said: “With healthy secured turnover, a strong pipeline and a clear plan for controlled, sustainable growth, we are well positioned for continued progress through 2026 and beyond.”
Presently, HBC is developing the £17m National Centre for Children’s Health Technology in Sheffield (pictured) and this week the firm moved into new offices in Leeds.
Other major jobs have included Rotherham Markets, ARK at Markham Vale and the Beck Hill multi-storey car park in Bridlington.
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Nicola Harley