Laing O’Rourke has joined the UK Contractors Group, despite previously shunning trade body membership

The decision by the £3bn-turnover company means that UKCG, which was officially launched in January, contains all of the UK’s top five contractors by turnover.

Laing O’Rourke, Balfour Beatty and Carillion have joined the organisation despite not being part of the Major Contractors Group, which was the main forum for large contractor representation before it was absorbed into UKCG.

Stephen Ratcliffe, chief executive of UKCG, said: “We’ve now got all the main contractors back in the fold. Working with the CBI Construction Council, we now pack a much greater punch.”