Shropshire Star

Hill & Smith trading up on 2018

Engineering group Hill & Smith Holdings has said at its annual general meeting that its performance of its UK businesses in the first four months of the year was positive with trading ahead of 2018.

Published
The Hill & Smith group is known for barriers

The board said its expectations for the full year remain unchanged.

"Whilst the wider investment environment continues to be cautious, broad-based infrastructure spend continues to underpin demand in our utilities and galvanizing operations. After a slower start to the year in the UK roads market, the implementation of the Government’s long-term road investment strategy is resulting in increasing utilisation of our temporary safety barrier rental fleet," the company said.

The Shirley-based group, which employs 4.400,specialises in design, manufacture and supply of infrastructure products and galvanizing services.

It includes its namesake motorway barriers factory at Bilston; Halesowen-based galvanising firm Joseph Ash, which also has sites in Telford, Walsall and Bilston, and Oldbury-based street lighting firm Signature.

The group bought ATG Access for £22.5m in February and said it is committed to enhancing its product offering and geographical footprint in markets where the infrastructure investment outlook is strong.

Jock Lennox, who has served 10 years on the board, the last two as chairman, will step down from his role once a replacement is found. The board expects to have a new chairman in place ahead of the 2020 AGM.