Ray O’Rourke, chairman of Laing O’Rourke, has predicted a minimum of 25 per cent growth on group revenue and a minimum 25 per cent growth of profit before tax.

On that basis the Group looks set to defy the downturn  - although the company does not officially reveal its year end figures until July, a 25 per cent growth would put group managed revenue for 2008/09 at about £5.3 billion and profit at £101 million.

In an interview with Contract Journal,  Mr O’Rourke also said that the company could see some growth in revenue of between 10-15 per cent  next year  - 15 per cent growth would put next year’s group revenue at £6.1 billion.

UK revenue growth for 2008/09 would be in “double digits” and definitely higher than the growth recorded for 2007/08, when revenue grew by 12 per cent to £3.24 billion. On that basis UK revenue for the year will come close to £4 billion, while the group’s total order book for the group would stand at £11 billion by the end of its financial year, of which the UK would account for £9 billion.

According to Mr.O’Rourke the  £500 million cash reserves reported last year for the group would remain virtually unchanged this year. The chairman also said that workforce numbers are expected to remain stable.

Laing O’Rourke directly employs about 13,000 people in the UK and is involved in a range of projects and joint ventures in the UK water industry.