RMJM has said workloads are now heading towards the kind of levels not seen since the worldwide recession struck two years ago.

The firm, which earlier this year hired former banker Sir Fred Goodwin in an international advisor role, reported a 22% increase in turnover to £121.8 million in the year to April 2009 – although pre-tax profits for the same period slumped 28% to £5.7 million.

But in the group’s directors’ report, signed off at the end of last month, RMJM said: “The group’s backlog of work is now increasing back to levels seen before the recession in most regions on the back of numerous projects.

“The increase in activity levels globally began in Asia and similar to their entry into recession, the Middle East, Europe and the US are following that region in making measured progress in the current market.”

It added that the Asian market, which includes China, had returned to pre-recession activity levels although it admitted the most doubt surrounded the US market “where the timing of recovery is unclear”.

RMJM added: “The group has a secured order book in excess of £85 million and this is continuing to build as we await more marked signs of recovery in the UK and US markets.”

The group employs nearly 1,200 staff of which more than three-quarter are technical.

The salary of the highest-paid director, who is not named, dropped 18% to £390,000.

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