A STEELWORK contractor will bid for high-profile air and rail work to maintain its resurgence after a £72m contract boost.

Severfield says the highspeed HS2 rail link and Heathrow’s third runway development provide perfect opportunities to bolster its market standing.

The company made the vow after seeing its order book rise to a six-year high, which will be augmented by new £72m work.

The latter includes provision of structural steelwork and metal decking for the 22 Bishopsgate London skyscraper, which stands more than 60 storeys high.

The successes mark a major turnaround for the company, which previously saw its progress knocked when costs overran on the London Cheesegrater skyscraper.

However, Ian Lawson, who took over as chief executive to address its fortunes, said the business, based at Dalton Airfield Industrial Estate, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, was now buoyant.

Speaking after half-year results to September 30 showed profit after tax was more than double on a year ago at £6.2m and its UK order book stood at £315m, he told The Northern Echo: “We are delighted.

“There has been a lot of hard work in the business to drive profit improvement and drive margin improvement.

We have started to see that come through.”

Mr Lawson said Severfield, which previously revealed it would supply steel for Tottenham Hotspur’s new 61,000- seat football stadium and a roof for Wimbledon’s No 1 tennis court, has seen little impact from the EU referendum, adding developers’ confidence means projects are still available to target.

He added: “I wouldn’t say the market is as robust as it was pre-Brexit but it is still steady.

“We have had no contracts cancelled or delayed.

“With HS2, Heathrow, Network Rail and Highways England we have got a lot of opportunities.

“The first phase of HS2 could be starting in 2018 and we hope to be successful on some of that work.”

Its deals alongside 62 Bishopsgate include distribution centres in the South-East.

Mr Lawson previously confirmed Severfield would continue using UK steel on its contracts, having used Tata Steel’s Long Products division to fulfil deals.

Mr Lawson said that wouldn’t change in light of Long Products’ takeover and subsequent renaming as British Steel by new owner, Greybull Capital, saying Severfield is committed to the UK supply chain.