Bowmer + Kirkland
 | |
| Type | Construction services |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | , England |
Area served | UK, North America, the Middle East |
| Key people | Jack Kirkland (Chairman) |
| Revenue | £1,069.8 million (2019)[1] |
| £71.0 million (2019)[1] | |
| £57.2 million (2019)[1] | |
| Website | www |
Bowmer + Kirkland Group is a British construction services business based in Heage, Derbyshire.
History
[edit]The company was established in 1923 as a partnership between joiner Alfred Bowmer and bricklayer Robert William Kirkland.[2]
In 1972, John Kirkland, the grandson of Robert William Kirkland, was appointed managing director of the company; four years later he became chairman as well.[3] Over the following 43 years that Kirkland served as chairman, Bowmer + Kirkland slowly developed into one of the largest privately-owned construction firms in the UK.[4][5]
In 2002, the firm reportedly surpassed the construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine.[6] Two years later, Bowmer + Kirkland reportedly outdone long term competitor Bovis.[7] In March 2008, the company's highest paid director received £8.6 million, which made them the best-paid director in the UK construction sector at that time.[8]
In July 2009, Bowmer + Kirkland was involved in a crane collapse in Liverpool that left one man paralysed and 100 people removed from their homes. The company was subsequently found guilty of breaching health and safety laws over the incident.[9][10]
In April 2010, the highest paid director at Bowmer & Kirkland was reportedly set to receive £10.2 million, which was the highest figure in the UK construction sector at that time.[11] In 2013, the company announced that 45 jobs were at risk of redundancy.[12]
Profitability increased considerably during the mid-2010s.[13][14] In May 2017, the company reported a 53 percent rise in pre-tax profits while turnover was almost £1 billion.[15]
In 2019, John Kirkland stepped down as chairman, the position being taken up by his son Jack;[3][16] John died two years later.[4]
In March 2023, the company purchased the offsite manufacturing division of Osborne for an undisclosed amount; prior to this, Bowmer + Kirkland had frequently worked together with Osborne across multiple projects.[17][5] That same year, the firm was engaged in part of a £1.4 billion redevelopment scheme in Nottingham’s Island Quarter site.[18]
In August 2025, Bowmer + Kirkland was one of four contractors to be assigned work by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to build new single living accommodation for Britain's armed forces.[19] That same year, the firm acquired the office interiors specialist Denton as part of a strategic expansion of its commercial fit-out activities.[20]
Major projects
[edit]Major projects have included:
- St George's Park National Football Centre in Staffordshire, completed in 2012[21]
- Trinity Square in Gateshead, completed in 2013[22]
- Center Parcs Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire, completed in 2014[23]
- Derby Arena, completed in 2015[24]
- St Marks Student Village for the University of Lincoln, completed in 2021[25]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ↑ "Bowmer and Kirkland on the move with expansion". The Journal. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- 1 2 Weinfass, Ian (16 November 2021). "Former Bowmer & Kirkland chair dies aged 83". constructionnews.co.uk.
- 1 2 Astley, Oliver (12 November 2021). "Construction boss and ex-Rams chairman John Kirkland has passed away". derbytelegraph.co.uk.
- 1 2 Rogers, Dave (15 March 2023). "Osborne selling offsite business to Bowmer & Kirkland as firm rejigs top roles". building.co.uk.
- ↑ "Bowmer & Kirkland surges ahead to steal the top spot". building.co.uk. 29 November 2002.
- ↑ "Bowmer & Kirkland knocks Bovis off top spot in June". building.co.uk. 23 July 2004.
- ↑ Bill, Tom (20 March 2008). "Bowmer & Kirkland highest paid director receives £8.6m". building.co.uk.
- ↑ "Liverpool Chandlers Wharf crane collapse: Firms convicted". BBC News. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ Traynor, Luke (19 May 2012). "Crane Crash Victim's Plea; Lawyers Urge Firms to Agree Compensation". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018.
- ↑ Gardiner, Joey (1 April 2010). "Bowmer & Kirkland pays out first £10m salary". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Dunton, Jim (21 May 2013). "Bowmer & Kirkland to cut 45 jobs". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Pitt, Vern (7 May 2014). "Bowmer & Kirkland profit jumps 7%". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Dransfield, Louise (10 June 2015). "Bowmer & Kirkland posts 17% profit growth". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Champ, Hamish (31 May 2017). "Bowmer & Kirkland saw profits soar in 2016". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Ing, Will (30 May 2019). "Margins suffer at Bowmer & Kirkland". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Banks, Charlotte (5 September 2023). "Osborne sells off third division in two years". constructionnews.co.uk.
- ↑ Gayne, Daniel (6 January 2023). "Bowmer & Kirkland building latest phase of £1.4bn Nottingham development". building.co.uk.
- ↑ Gayne, Daniel (22 August 2025). "Four contractors picked by DIO for 10 military accommodation schemes". building.co.uk.
- ↑ "Bowmer & Kirkland acquires Denton to expand fit-out presence". constructionnews.co.uk. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "B&K to build £105m national football centre". Construction Enquirer. 19 November 2010.
- ↑ "Thousand jobs to be created by Gateshead revamp". Chronicle Live. 9 August 2012.
- ↑ "Bowmer & Kirkland wins £93m Center Parcs contract". Construction Index. 1 November 2012.
- ↑ "Pride Park sports arena taking shape". This is Derbyshire. 9 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ Johnson, Robin (24 July 2019). "Bowmer and Kirkland starts work on £75m student flats scheme". business-live.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2019.