Sales recover for Hill & Smith

The group includes its namesake motorway barriers factory Hill & Smith at Bilston; Halesowen-based galvanising firm Joseph Ash with sites in Telford, Walsall and Bilston and Oldbury-based street lighting firm Signature.

In the the four months to the end of April revenue was also ahead of 2019 levels.

Hill & Smith has also reported a strong recovery in operating profit in comparison to the same period last year which was impacted by Covid-19 related disruption from the middle of March,

The roads sub-division delivered results ahead of 2020, reflecting high levels of demand in the US, a solid performance in the UK and a robust recovery in our other international roads businesses.

The security businesses continued to face challenges due to Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings and delayed customer projects, the trading performance was ahead of the same period last year.

The utilities division continued to perform well with year-on-year growth supported by a good recovery in demand in our engineered pipe support and UK utility businesses

The group expects to see a good recovery in trading in 2021 and interim results for the six months to the end of June are scheduled to be announced on August 11.

Chief executive Paul Simmons said: "The group has made an encouraging start to the year and we expect a good recovery in trading through 2021. We are moving ahead with our plans to create a higher quality business and the announced closure of VMS and acquisition of Prolectric demonstrate this. Our end markets are supported by strong macro drivers that give us confidence in the group's long-term prospects."