Kevin Taylor becomes UK construction's top earner, just six years after founding the fast-growing contractor

Kevin Taylor, owner of Essex-based McLaren Construction, has become the industry's top earner with a pay packet of £10.1m in 2007.

His salary rocketed from £204,485 last year. Taylor, who set up McLaren six years ago with Phil Pringle, owns 94% of the company.

Turnover at McLaren in the year ended 31 July 2007 rose 86% from £71m to £133.8m and pre-tax profit increased by 28% from £4.3m to £5.5m - producing a margin of 4%.

McLaren, which calls itself a “design and construction specialist in the commercial, industrial, retail, leisure and hotel sectors”, described its growth since being founded as “spectacular but controlled”.

Last month the highest-paid director of Midlands contractor Bowmer & Kirkland became the top earner in 2007, with a pay packet of £8.6m. The director was thought to be chairman John Kirkland, and the sum was a 162% jump on the previous year's £3.3m.

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