Hopkins on recruitment drive as stalled projects get dusted down

Hopkins is looking for more staff as stalled projects in the UK and Dubai begin to be dusted down by developers.

The firm, which won a RIBA award last year for its work restoring St George’s Chapel (pictured) in Great Yarmouth, reported that pre-tax profits were down a fifth to £1.9 million in the year to March 2014 on turnover that was flat at £9.7 million.

But in a statement accompanying the results, founder Michael Hopkins said: “Both new projects and many of those previously held in the pipeline are gathering momentum and, as a consequence, we are recruiting new staff in response to this increased workload in the UK and Dubai.”

He added: “In the UK, workload is growing across the healthcare, office, residential, sports and hospitality sectors. Educational projects continue to flourish at home and the US, and the Dubai office has had increasing success in both the Middle East and in Japan.”

More than £5 million of its turnover is from the UK while nearly £4 million is from outside the UK and Europe.

The firm employed 103 people at the year end – up from 96 on 2013 – although the number of architects on its books slipped to 48 from 57.

Hopkins, which is a LLP, is run by 15 members with the accounts showing that the member with the highest share of profit picked up just over £126,000 – down from £179,500 last time.