The family-run firm saw its revenue fall more than £15 million from £54.6m in 2017 to £39.5m for the year ending September 2 2018. Pre-tax profits fell from £2.3m in 2017 to £377,000 last year.

I&H Brown was hit by a reduction in workload in the first half of the 2017/18 financial year, with several projects delayed due to clients’ funding issues.

Managing director Scott Brown said the business also suffered from its civil engineering division being “less busy” as a result of a reduction in onshore wind energy projects.

Despite this, Mr Brown said the division’s workload had already picked up in the current financial year and an overall pipeline of work worth £23m booked for the coming six months.

“Having had a less busy year in 2017/18 our workload has significantly picked up in the current financial year,” he said.

“In particular, we have been successful in securing infrastructure projects for large housing schemes.

“The past year has seen us secure such projects at major housing developments including Kingdom Park in Kirkcaldy with Murray Estates, Blindwells New Town with Hargreaves Land and we have just commenced our first package of work at Winchburgh for Winchburgh Developments Limited.”

Mr Brown added: “Since August 2018, the development division has commenced development of two further sites.

“Our Kingsway site in Dundee is now well progressed with a first sale of land to Lidl concluded in May and the company also commenced development of a housing site in Bathgate which is now substantially complete.

“Our development interests in North Dunfermline will be further enhanced by the submission of further planning applications on land now zoned for development including a full planning application for 450 houses at Colton Farm.”