CIVIL engineering group RJ McLeod has seen pre-tax profits increase by 45 per cent to £18 million.

Revenue at the company, one of Scotland’s largest civil engineering and building contractors, climbed substantially, by 42 per cent, to £166m.

Writing in accounts newly filed at Companies House, the directors said that trading had benefited from the ongoing investment in plant and transport, with £4.8m being invested in the year to October 30. Looking forward, the board said its strategy was to maintain an up to date fleet.

The accounts show that the company, which has offices in Glasgow and Dingwall, ended the year with shareholder funds of £46.7 million, up from £37m.

Writing in the accounts, the directors said: “The group’s workload is in healthy shape and with the firm foundation of excellent staff and good quality plant and transport linked to planned management and strict financial discipline, the directors are confident for a positive turn out in this year’s trading.”

In an average month the company had 459 staff, up from 425.

Director emoluments totalled £4.6m, with the highest paid director receiving £1.2m.