The UK's largest integrated brickwork and scaffolding subcontractor, Lee Marley Brickwork (LMB), has posted record turnover of £87m for 2024, marking a strong recovery after a turbulent period caused by government building safety changes.
The firm was heavily impacted last year when the government lowered the two-staircase rule for residential towers from £30m to £18m in July 2023. The regulatory shift forced clients to pause and redesign projects, delaying around £30m of secured work by up to nine months.
Despite this setback, LMB recorded a 25% rise in pre-tax profit to £3.6m, driven by decisive cost restructuring. Founder Lee Marley realigned the business by cutting overheads, removing senior management layers, and giving greater responsibility to teams across the firm. This strategy reduced admin expenses by 7% and improved project returns by 5% in the second half of the year.
The turnaround marks a significant milestone following a £2.2m loss in 2022, when wage and material inflation hit margins across the construction sector.
LMB now boasts a year-end order book of £135m, with ongoing reinvestment into its scaffolding operations and training academy.
The company has also expanded its in-house apprenticeship programme, welcoming 26 new starters in 2024, bringing its total number of apprentices to 117 across the UK. With new approval to deliver Level 2 and Level 3 brickwork apprenticeships, LMB is cementing its role in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
