The group saw profits rise 17.3% to £123.2m on turnover of £2.81bn (£2.55bn)

Key to the performance, said the company, was its record level of international awards including Dubai Metro (preferred bidder, £400m), US Postal Service ($260m), LOGCAP IV ($225m) and Borallon Correctional Centre (Aus$100m)

It had also made significant progress in other new markets, including Glasgow City Council strategic partnership (preferred bidder, £265m) in local authority market and e-Borders (£200m) in homeland security

Christopher Hyman, chief executive, said: “2007 was an excellent year. We were awarded significant contracts in existing markets and used skills developed in the UK to build positions in markets such as Australian home affairs and Middle Eastern transport. We also reaped the benefits of the capabilities we have acquired in recent years, winning record levels of work in the US, securing the prestigious e-Borders programme in the UK and one of the first local authority strategic partnerships. At the same time, we further increased our margins. This success underpins our optimism for 2008 and beyond