The Holy Grail of business - a regular source of work largely immune to the unpredictable fluctuations of the economic cycle - is denied to all but the most fortunate of companies.

Basildon-based D & D Construction is one of that fortunate few.

Split off from D & D Brickwork in 1994 to tender almost exclusively for London Underground - and to a lesser extent, Railtrack - jobs, the company is now one of just 100 companies London Underground calls upon to carry out its construction work.

With the ageing network crying out for root and branch refurbishment, this has proved a lucrative arrangement for the company, with work on major projects from Hyde Park Corner to Earls Court sending its workforce up to more than 100 and its annual turnover from less than £500,000 in 1994 to the £9million expected this year.

"LU needs an lot of financial development and has done for years," said managing director David Farrow.

He added: "back in 1994 I saw that it had to happen in the future and that's why we started D&D Construction.

"The feeling in construction is that the industry goes through eight or ten year cycles.

"But London Underground can't afford not to invest, there's always pressure on them from the public and MPs, so even if people do stop building houses or whatever, we won't be affected."

But of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch. In exchange for regular contracts, D&D is expected to maintain high standards, with LU's regulations among the toughest in the country. It even audits its construction suppliers regularly.

Mr Farrow said: "You have to invest an awful lot of funds in your staff. Each person here goes on between six and eight courses for London Underground.

The work is so safety critical that if we didn't invest in training, London Under-ground just wouldn't employ us.

"We have always got to be aware that there has been a lot of construction companies that come into London Underground to work on the stations and have not made the investment, and LU have quickly seen through them.

"In the end, it's all about the people. I couldn't want for a more superb team than the one I have here."

Mr Farrow has big plans for the company's future, including taking on more work for whichever body takes over the running of the UK's rail network from the recently defunct Railtrack, as well as a possible move into the airport industry.

Published Tuesday December 18, 2001