KIER Group has announced improved profits in its full-year results to June 30, 2015.

The property, residential, construction and services group that took over Mouchel, which was appointed to run several Bournemouth Borough Council departments, employs more than 250 people from its town hall offices and around the area.

The group said that revenue was up 14 per cent to £3.4 billion, with underlying profit before tax of £85.9 million, up 17 per cent from £73.7 million in 2014.

The property division saw profit up 42 per cent.

Residential delivered 2,130 units, up 35 per cent on 2014.

Construction saw a revenue growth of 15 per cent and services a revenue growth of 13 per cent.

Earnings per share were 96p, compared to 87.5p in 2014.

An exceptional charge of £31.6m on continuing operations (2014: £42.2m) was incurred during the year predominantly relating to the closure of the Kier Group pension scheme, the sale of F&PS and the transaction and integration costs relating to the acquisition of Mouchel.

Dorset projects that contributed to the results included the £6.3m rebuild of Montacute School in Poole under the Education Funding Agency’s Southern batch of works.

Kier maintains 2,830km of mains for Bournemouth Water - roughly the distance between Bournemouth and Tenerife.

For Bournemouth council, it provides human resources, accounting, facilities management and IT and was also festival partner for the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Chief executive, Haydn Mursell, said: “I am pleased to announce that we have delivered solid growth and increased profitability. Economic confidence is returning to our core markets and, furthermore, the acquisition of Mouchel represents a major step in accelerating the Group’s five-year strategy.

“All of our divisions have performed well. We continue to simplify the portfolio and restructure our businesses and invest in our future growth. With a £9.3bn order book, a strong balance sheet and continued progress on our Vision 2020 goals this year, we look forward to the future with confidence.”

During this financial year Kier Group also joined the 5% Club to support momentum in the recruitment of apprentices and graduates.