This civil-engineering and building firm was set up by Sir Robert “Concrete Bob” McAlpine in 1869, and remains firmly under family ownership. Its recent work has included the construction of Arsenal Football Club’s 60,000-seat Emirates stadium, and the transformation of Birmingham’s Bullring. The company also has a long history in the energy sector, and has built several wind farms, including the world’s largest in Texas. It is looking to its renewable energy and sustainability division for continued growth. Sales were £1,817m in 2007.