What happened

Lee Marley Brickwork has posted record turnover of £95.4m for the year to December 2025, up 9.4% from £87.2m, marking its sixth consecutive year of revenue growth, as reported by Construction News and Construction Enquirer. Pre-tax profit fell 19.7% to £2.87m from £3.57m, which the firm attributed to investment ahead of expected growth, including extra staff, new IT systems and higher depreciation on an expanding fleet of plant and equipment.

Average staff numbers rose from 232 to 260 over the year. The firm, known mainly for brickwork and masonry on major residential and mixed use schemes, has been getting involved earlier in projects, during design and cost planning, which is why the hiring has concentrated in estimating, design management, finance and commercial roles rather than only on the tools.

Why it matters

Lee Marley's results cut against the general mood in housebuilding, where output has been patchy and several volume housebuilders have trimmed regional operations. A specialist trade contractor growing revenue for six straight years, even as it absorbs a profit dip to fund that growth, says something about where the risk in the market actually sits. Clients are increasingly choosing specialist brickwork and envelope contractors who can get involved at design stage and take on buildability risk early, rather than leaving facade and masonry packages to be squeezed late in a programme. That shift rewards firms that invest in design and commercial capability, not just bricklaying capacity.

It is also a reminder that growth in construction right now is uneven by trade and by tier. Main contractors with big, visible frameworks get the headlines, but specialist subcontractors who have made themselves harder to replace, through early design input and strong commercial control, are the ones adding headcount steadily.

What it means for your career

If you are an estimator, design manager or commercial surveyor working in masonry, facades or the wider building envelope, this is evidence that specialist subcontractors are willing to pay for capability beyond the trade itself. Lee Marley's hiring has specifically gone into estimating, design management, finance and commercial teams, which suggests roles that blend technical brickwork knowledge with design coordination or cost control are the ones in demand. For bricklayers and site supervisors, a contractor adding headcount while growing revenue for six years running is a more reliable employer than one riding a single large contract. Worth a look if you want a specialist employer with a genuine growth record rather than a main contractor cutting back regional teams.