What Carnell Support Services does

Carnell Support Services Limited is a UK specialist highways maintenance and civil engineering contractor that delivers multi-disciplinary works across the strategic road network. Headquartered in Leeds with regional offices in Penkridge, Featherstone (Yorks & North East), Cuerden (North West) and Higham (East England), the company was founded in 1993 and operates across approximately 300 employees on average during 2023. Its seven capability lines are civil engineering, drainage surveys, filter drain recycling, technology and lighting installation, SafetyCam road worker protection solutions, safety barrier and fencing delivered through the AGC joint venture with AmcoGiffen, and bridge and structures maintenance delivered through the Route One Infrastructure subsidiary acquired in April 2024. Its primary client is National Highways, with additional work for Transport Scotland (notably through BEAR Scotland), local authorities, and tier-one contractors including Amey, Kier and Tarmac.

Underlying the services are eight named proprietary innovations built around specific UK highways use cases. SafetyCam is a vehicle detection deterrent system for road works and diversion routes; StoneMaster recycles filter drain media in-situ without excavation; SmartScan uses ground-probing radar to assess filter drain condition; Find & Fix combines survey, remediation and a proprietary web-based GIS (Drainage Viewer) to prevent network flooding; CleverScan is a laser/video chamber scanning system integrated with WinCan; EcoSite is a solar-powered, battery-stored, HVO-fueled net-zero site compound solution; OverheadSafe is wearable proximity-warning apparel; and HDAGPR is high-density ground-probing radar for sub-surface utility mapping. These innovations sit on a technology stack that includes drainage survey data tools, ISO 27001:2022 information security, and a Drainage Viewer GIS that provides 24/7 access to asset condition data.

Carnell generates revenue primarily through managed-services framework contracts with public-sector clients - chiefly National Highways under framework agreements including the Scheme Delivery Framework and the 2025 SPaTS3 framework as part of an Arcadis-led consortium - plus specialist sub-contracting for tier-one contractors and operating companies. Pricing is set via competitive tendering and is not publicly disclosed. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renew Holdings plc (LSE: RNWH) and operates with operational independence while drawing on group-level resources.

Name

Carnell Support Services

Legal name

Carnell Support Services Limited

Website

https://carnellgroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Carnell Support Services is a UK highways maintenance and civil engineering contractor delivering drainage, filter drain recycling, safety, barrier, lighting and bridge works for National Highways, Transport Scotland and tier-one contractors via proprietary innovations such as SafetyCam, StoneMaster and EcoSite, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renew Holdings plc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Penkridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Highway Maintenance Contracts: Carnell generates revenue primarily through framework contracts with National Highways and other government bodies for maintenance and improvement of the UK strategic road network. Contracts include civil engineering, drainage services, safety barriers, technology installations, and bridge maintenance.
2. Specialist Services: Specialist services including drainage surveys, filter drain recycling, bridge waterproofing, concrete repairs, and safety technology solutions delivered as part of infrastructure contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carnell provides specialist highways maintenance and civil engineering services for the UK strategic road network, including drainage surveys, filter drain recycling, technology and lighting installation, safety barriers and fencing, and bridge and structures maintenance. The company delivers these services through framework contracts with National Highways, Transport Scotland, and local authorities, leveraging proprietary innovations such as SafetyCam, StoneMaster, SmartScan, EcoSite, CleverScan, and Find & Fix to differentiate its offering. Carnell operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renew Holdings plc and holds extensive ISO certifications, PAS 2080 carbon management accreditation, and 16+ consecutive RoSPA Gold Awards.

Product overview

Carnell Support Services is a multi-disciplinary highways maintenance and civil engineering specialist operating as a platform of integrated services. The company offers seven core capability areas: Civil Engineering, Drainage Surveys, Filter Drain Recycling, Technology & Lighting, SafetyCam Solutions, Safety Barrier & Fencing (delivered through AGC joint venture), and Bridges & Structures (delivered through Route One Infrastructure subsidiary). The portfolio includes six proprietary innovations—SafetyCam (road worker protection), StoneMaster (filter drain recycling), SmartScan (GPR-based filter drain assessment), Find & Fix (risk-based drainage remediation with GIS viewer), CleverScan (laser chamber scanning), and EcoSite (net-zero compound solutions)—alongside enabling technologies like HDAGPR surveying tools. All capabilities are delivered nationwide for clients including National Highways, Transport Scotland, and local authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SafetyCam: Mobile road worker protection system using vehicle detection to capture dangerous driving instances and provide visual deterrent.
• StoneMaster
• SmartScan
• Find & Fix
• EcoSite
• CleverScan

Products and services

• Civil Engineering Delivery of new-build and maintenance schemes for civils infrastructure on UK highways, serving National Highways and other government clients.
• Drainage Surveys Comprehensive drainage investigation services providing asset location and condition insight for asset management and remediation across the highway network.
• Filter Drain Recycling Drainage services reflecting commitment to innovation, process development, environmental and sustainability considerations for filter drain refurbishment.
• Technology and Lighting Installation and maintenance services for roadside lighting and communications assets including variable message signs, CCTV equipment, emergency telephones, and associated electronic apparatus.
• SafetyCam Solutions Vehicle detection systems that capture instances of dangerous driving while providing a visual deterrent to change driver behaviour through road works and diversion routes, deployed as a service for highways schemes.
• Safety Barrier and Fencing Road restraint systems provided through AGC joint venture partnership with AmcoGiffen for National Highways across central, north-west and north-east regions on the Scheme Delivery Framework.
• Bridges and Structures Specialist bridge maintenance through Route One Infrastructure including bridge expansion joints, waterproofing systems, bearings, concrete repairs, and cathodic protection.
• StoneMaster Sustainable in-situ filter drain refurbishment technique that recycles filter drain media without excavation, reducing HGV movements, cost, and carbon emissions for highways drainage maintenance.
• SmartScan Cost-effective risk-based tool which assesses filter drain performance using ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning to improve network knowledge for targeted maintenance.
• Find and Fix Prioritised find and fix drainage solution combining survey, remediation, and GIS technology to prevent network flooding through targeted interventions on the highway network.
• EcoSite Carbon and customer considerate compound solutions using solar power, battery storage, HVO fuel, and energy management systems to reduce construction site emissions and enable net-zero site operations.
• CleverScan Intelligent chamber laser and video scanning system that records drainage chamber details for CS 551 compliant CCTV surveys, achieving 4km per shift coverage.
• OverheadSafe Wearable tech that lights up in proximity to overhead hazards such as powerlines and structures, providing visual alerts to workers to reduce overhead strike risks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scope 1 emissions reduced by 66% in three years through plant and compound operation improvements
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Route One Holdings LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Carnell acquired Route One Holdings Limited in April 2024. Route One is a specialist bridge and structures maintenance company based in Yorkshire with framework contracts with National Highways for structures, waterproofing and expansion joints. The acquisition enhances Carnell's civil engineering capabilities and supports UK infrastructure maintenance efforts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kier Group: Kier Highways is one of the largest UK strategic road network maintenance contractors operating on National Highways frameworks, providing drainage, barrier, surfacing and asset maintenance services directly comparable to Carnell's core offering.
• Amey: Amey (part of Ferrovial) operates significant UK highways maintenance and infrastructure services including National Highways scheme delivery and trunk road maintenance in Scotland, directly competing with Carnell for framework contracts.
• Ringway Infrastructure Services: Ringway (Eurovia/VINCI) is a specialist UK highways maintenance contractor delivering term maintenance contracts for local authorities and is directly comparable to Carnell's barrier/fencing and surface maintenance work.
• A-one+: A-one+ is a joint venture between Costain and Colas delivering integrated highways maintenance across National Highways Area contracts, directly comparable to Carnell's scheme delivery framework scope including barrier, drainage and civils works.
• Colas: Colas is a specialist UK road construction and highways maintenance contractor, part of Bouygues, with directly comparable capabilities in drainage, barrier installation and scheme delivery for National Highways.
• Tarmac: Tarmac is a UK infrastructure services and materials provider that delivers road surfacing, civils and asset maintenance work as a Carnell customer/partner (collaborated on A14 resurfacing), directly comparable in the highway maintenance value chain.

Broad incumbents

• Costain Group: Costain is a tier-1 UK infrastructure contractor with a major highways division that competes with Carnell on multi-disciplinary schemes and National Highways frameworks while also serving as a JV partner (A-one+) and previous employer of Carnell's Operations Director.
• Balfour Beatty: Balfour Beatty is a large UK and international infrastructure group with a highways maintenance and asset management division that competes with Carnell on larger National Highways and local authority frameworks.
• Skanska: Skanska is a tier-1 international infrastructure contractor with a significant UK highways and civil engineering business that competes with Carnell on large multi-disciplinary National Highways schemes.
• Morgan Sindall: Morgan Sindall Infrastructure operates UK civils and highways works including National Highways scheme delivery, overlapping with Carnell's civil engineering and bridge maintenance capabilities through organic and acquisitive growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/carnellhighways
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKM5IEwyqgeFS7mTXF6Fygw
• Facebookfacebook.com/carnellhighways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carnell
• TikToktiktok.com/@carnellhighways

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carnell Support Services