Trading Statement

Allen PLC
18 September 2000


                      ALLEN PLC ('Allen')
                               
    (Hire Services, Utility Services, Building Contracting)
                               
                               
       TRADING REVIEW FOR 5 MONTHS ENDED 27 AUGUST 2000
                               
             CLOSURE OF G PEARCE CIVIL ENGINEERING

During  this financial year Allen Plc has embarked on a  major
strategic refocus of the group.  This has involved a number of
disposals  including  the sales of Speedy  Scaffolding,  Sheet
Piling  (UK)  and the recently announced sale of Allen  Homes.
In  total these disposals will generate in excess of  £30m  of
gross  consideration.  All three operations will be  shown  as
discontinued activities in our next published statement.

The  disposal  of  Allen Homes to Morris Group  has  now  been
completed and the transaction fees and costs of £1.2m will  be
shown  as  an exceptional cost this year.  Completion accounts
are being prepared and any downward adjustment to the purchase
price will be provided as appropriate.

Allen  Plc is today announcing its decision to close G Pearce,
its  general  civil engineering operation based in  the  South
West.  Pearce is a small non-specialist civil engineering sub-
contractor  and  as  such does not form a  core  part  of  the
group's  activities  or forward strategy.   The  closure  will
occur  no  later than 31 December 2000 unless a buyer  can  be
found before this date.  The closure and losses will result in
an  approximate charge of £2.0m to discontinued activities  in
the  first  half of this year.  This will leave our  Utilities
Division  focused on the provision of outsourcing services  to
utility  companies for the maintenance of their infrastructure
networks.

Whilst  the  results in Building have been below  expectation,
performance in Hire and Utility Services is encouraging.

Hire Services

The  continuing  strength of our hire  services  companies  is
reflected  in the 15% increase in 'like for like' turnover  in
Speedy  Hire  Centres.   In the five  months,  4  'greenfield'
depots  have  been  opened  and  we  are  confident  that  our
prediction  of  20  new depots for the year will  be  reached.
Underlying margins have been maintained.

Speedy Space now has over 9,900 cabins and utilisation remains
at over 90%

Our  new  niche product areas of surveying and power equipment
are performing ahead of our initial expectations in this start
up phase.

Utility Services

The  results  for Ryan have shown an 18% increase in  turnover
during  the  five month period and margins are  in  line  with
expectations.

They  have  also received a boost to future workload programme
with the announcement of two significant awards.

In  Blackburn a contract has been secured from Scottish  Power
to construct a 4.6km gas pipeline to the new combined heat and
power  (CHP)  plant for the Sappi Paper Mill.  Ryan  has  also
been  appointed  preferred bidder by Severn  Trent  Water  for
their Design & Build Water Main Rehabilitation contract in the
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire areas.  The 18  month  contract
is  for  the  rehabilitation of  126km  of  water  main.   The
combined value of these contracts is approximately £8m.

Building Contracting

As  reported  at  our  AGM, our margin in  Building  has  been
disappointing  and below expectations.  That said,  we  remain
committed to this activity.  It is cash generative and we  are
confident   that  the  contribution  of  our  new   divisional
director, Nick Davies, will assist a return to higher margins.
We  have already started this process with the mergers of  two
Midlands  offices  and the combination of our  Manchester  and
North West activities.

As  a  result of these rationalisation measures and low margin
work we are expecting to report a break even position for  the
first half with an improvement during the second half.

Commentary

Donald Greenhalgh, Chairman of Allen, commented:

'We  have  now  completed a thorough  review  of  our  trading
activities which has resulted in our implementing a number  of
strategic changes.  These changes will have an impact on  this
year's  results but will leave us firmly focused on our  three
core  activities  of  Hire  Services,  Utility  Services   and
Building Contracting.

The  disposal  programme will leave  the  group  in  a  strong
financial  position with substantial funds to  re-invest.   We
are  researching a number of investment opportunities in  Hire
and  Utility Services but these will only be made at the right
prices.   Surplus funds will be  returned  to shareholders via 
a share buy back programme'.

For further information contact:

Ken  Fox  (Chief Executive)               01204 699277
                                       (8.00 a.m.  - 5.00 p.m.)

Neil  O'Brien  (Finance Director)         01204 699277
                                       (8.00 a.m.  - 5.00 p.m.)

Brian Coleman-Smith                       020 7786 9600
Binns  & Co Public Relations           (7.00 a.m.  - 6.00 p.m.)