Work on a range of significant public sector projects in Scotland has contributed to a 40% increase in turnover for Graham Construction.

The Northern Ireland-based firm recorded £150 million turnover in Scotland in the year to March 31, up from £110m in the prior period, The Herald has reported.

The contractor is active on a number of public sector projects including the £120m Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Centre in Aberdeen for NHS Grampian.

It is also working on the £60m Phase One of Dumfries Learning Town and the £26m Dalbeattie Learning Campus in south west Scotland.

The awards underline the value of the public sector work to construction firms in Scotland.

Other builders based outside the country, including Galliford Try, have noted that activity has been stronger in recent years in Scotland than south of the Border, where public spending cuts have had greater impact.

Graham group executive chairman, Michael Graham, highlighted the importance of Scotland to the business when the group celebrated 15 years of doing business in the country.

The group has won business worth £2 billion in total in Scotland in that period.

Mr Graham said: “We started our Scottish business with three people, now we employ over 350 staff, almost all of whom have been recruited in Scotland.”