Balfour Beatty to pay final dividend after order book boosted by HS2 work

Construction group Balfour Beatty has revealed it is ready to start paying dividends again, after the value of its order book swelled in 2020 despite the coronavirus crisis.

The FTSE 250 firm said that despite disruption from Covid-19, which saw it close some construction sites in Scotland and London for lockdowns, its year-end order book is expected to be around £17 billion.

That is significantly higher than last year, £14.3 billion. The firm was boosted by a number of contract wins. It will be involved in the building of the HS2 project, including at Old Oak Common station.

Full-year sales are expected to be in line with the prior year.

Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn said: "As the impact of Covid-19 reduces, we are seeing positive momentum across the business.”