The growth reflects strong net new business in North America, an acceleration of growth in Europe and Japan, and a more subdued environment in the group’s fast growing & emerging and offshore & remote divisions.
In the Europe & Japan division, revenues grew by 1.2% for the nine-month period, and 1.8% in the third quarter driven by improving performances in several countries, particularly the UK and Spain. Operating margins improved by 10 basis points across the period.
In North America revenues were up 7.8% across the nine months to 30th June 2015, and 7% in the third quarter. Strong growth across most sectors were partly offset by weaker volumes in the business with oil and gas clients.
The group’s Fast Growing and Emerging division saw revenues rise by 7.4% in the nine-month period, and 6.8% in the third quarter. Strong rates of net new business were offset by weaker volumes in Brazil and Turkey.
A statement by Compass Group read: “Compass had a good third quarter and we maintain our positive revenue expectations for the full year. The North American business continues to perform very well and accelerating growth in Europe and Japan has offset a slowdown in Fast Growing and Emerging.
“With our continued focus on costs and efficiencies, we expect the 2015 full year operating margin for the Group to be flat after these additional restructuring costs. In 2016, the savings, together with margin improvement in the rest of the Group, is expected to offset the impact of lower volumes and pricing pressures in our Fast Growing and Emerging region.”