The STHree Board has proposed to pay a final dividend at 8.0 pence (2020: 5.0 pence) per share. Taken together with the interim dividend of 3.0 pence (2020: nil pence) per share, this gives a total dividend for the year of 11.0 pence (2020: 5.0 pence) per share.
The final dividend, which amounts to approximately £10.7 million, will be subject to shareholder approval at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. It will be paid on 10 June 2022 to shareholders on the register on 6 May 2022.
Other financial highlights include:
- Record performance for the year, driven by execution of strategy and increased demand for STEM skills.
- Net fees at an all-time high, up 19% YoY:
- Strong growth achieved in Germany up 23%, USA up 24% and the Netherlands up 19%, which are the Group's three largest countries and account for 74% of Group net fees.
- Growth in Technology, Life Sciences and Engineering sectors across the Group.
- Contract and Permanent net fees up 17% and 24% YoY, respectively.
- Contract net fees represent 75% of Group net fees (2020: 76%), with the contractor order book up 43% YoY.
- Record adjusted profit before tax of £60 million for the Group, up 111% YoY.
- Robust balance sheet, with £58 million net cash at year end (2020: £50 million net cash).
- Strength of contractor order book and recent trading is tracking ahead of expectations; they now anticipate double-digit net fee and profit growth for 2022.
