Growth in public-sector and overseas contracts keeps firm busy as restructuring continues

Troubled architect SMC has told the stock exchange that deteriorating market conditions have not affected the group's workload.

The practice is undergoing a restructuring following a run of poor results and the departure of former chief executive Stewart McColl.

It has said in a trading update that the risks in the UK private sector over the first half of the year were offset by a growing number of wins in public-sector and overseas projects.

The firm also said that the cost-saving programme now being implemented will have an impact on its financial performance in the second half.

SMC said it has limited exposure to the residential market, with less than 11% of its future order book coming from the sector. It said it has secured 90% of its 2008 order book and 40% of its anticipated workload for 2009.

The firm announced that fees instructed in June and July total £7.7m, in line with the commissions previously announced for April and May.

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