(Image: Colin Mearns)

A Scottish company founded by a high-profile businessman has reported a rise in turnover to £1.27 billion.

Operating profit almost trebled to £20.2 million at Lord Willie Haughey’s company, which also revealed it had moved to offload part of its business.

New accounts for City Facilities Management Holdings Limited, which acts as a holding company for the facilities management, cleaning and related project services group, show a profit after tax of £8m, set against a loss of £3m in the prior period, partly due to an £8.2m drop in exceptional items in the year “along with stronger contract performance mainly from the UK”.

Turnover increased 2% from £1.24bn the year before at the Glasgow firm.

The group, which also continues to supply, install and maintain air conditioning, refrigeration and other equipment, had an average number of employees of 7,393 in 2025, set against 7,389 the year before.

Firm founded by prominent Scottish businessman Lord Willie Haughey hikes turnover to £1.27 billion (Image: Getty Images)

The annual report and consolidated financial statements to December 31, 2025 noted that “revenues have grown 2% over the year with growth in the UK and Australia offsetting reductions in USA and across Asia”.

Read More:

• Old Course Hotel sees first post-pandemic dip in North American demand
• Scottish games company cuts workforce by 16 per cent in 'reshape'

The directors said in the strategic report: “The group continues to expand services globally across a range of market sectors including retail and commercial.

“The retail markets in which the group operates remain very challenging and competitive.”

The directors added: “Given this backdrop we continue to invest in delivering service and value through various long-term partnerships arid as such we also share the cost challenges facing the markets.”

Turnover from facilities management and cleaning services increased to £1.007bn, from £996m the year before. Turnover from facilities management in the UK and Europe increased by £24m “mainly resulting from additional works provided to existing long-term clients” and by £21m in Australia and New Zealand.

Read More:

• Profit down by a third at pubs and clubs giant founded by Scottish entrepreneur
• Historic Scottish family-run sweet company posts rise in turnover and profit

The latter was related to the additional income from the provision of increased and new services to existing customers along with securing a number of new customers.

The company founded by Lord and Lady Susan Haughey in 1985 also said that “following a strategic review of our operations in North America the group accepted an offer from one of the largest facilities management service providers in North America to acquire the City business within the USA”.

The firm said: “This transaction completed on March 31, 2026. This allows our continued focus on growth across the UK & Europe, Australia and Asia.

“The group continue to explore organic growth through new contracts alongside expanding service delivery with existing clients.”