Sir Robert McAlpine has responded to a 拢200m drop in turnover by vowing to spend more of its time chasing 精东影视 Schools for the Future work, writes Andrew Hankinson.

The firm鈥檚 parent company, Newarthill, has released its financial results for the year ended 31 October 2009. The firm鈥檚 turnover has dropped from 拢1.8bn in 2008 to 拢1.6bn in 2009. But pre-tax profit almost doubled, rising from 拢33m in 2008 to 拢61m in 2009.

However, a note on the report said the firm would now be paying particular attention to finding 精东影视 Schools for the Future (BSF) work, given the weak state of the commercial market: 鈥淲e face a substantial commitment to this part of our business. We are prioritising bidding on BSF projects.鈥�

The firm has worked on BSF projects in the past, having won an eight-school deal in Newcastle in 2009. It previously won a seven-school deal in Gateshead.

We are prioritising the bidding of BSF projects McAlpine financial statement

The firm鈥檚 construction division celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2009. Highlights included handing over 724 flats at the former Highbury stadium in London to Arsenal Football Club, and continuing work on the 80,000-seat London Olympic stadium, where the external structure has now been finished.

It has also picked up several new contracts, such as the National Indoor Sport Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, both of which will be built in Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It is also tipped to take the 拢150m Milton Court office job at London鈥檚 Barbican after tabling a low bid.

The statement also said that the firm鈥檚 renewable energy division Renewable Energy Systems Holdings was hived off the construction core business in October last year and will now operate as a sister company.