What Electrical Testing does

Electrical Testing Ltd is a privately held UK specialist highway electrical contractor headquartered in Norwich, founded in 1990 by Alan Hobbs. The company operates through three divisions: ETL Highways (electrical and structural testing, fault finding, route tracing, and inventory collection for street lighting and highway electrical assets); ETL Connections (NERS-accredited Independent Connections Provider offering full-scope LV jointing and design/connections up to 400amp supplies across UK Distribution Network Operator areas); and ETL Training (City & Guilds, Lantra, HESA and EUSR accredited centre, and the sole government-accredited provider of Highway Electrical Apprenticeships). The company's proprietary technology stack centres on the patented Dipstik® eddy current testing device (Model C with Bluetooth, GPS, digital readouts, and aluminium column capability) and the in-house developed AMP (Asset Management Platform), a map-based software platform with API integrations that replaced the legacy Easyweb system in October 2025.

The business generates revenue primarily through professional services: project-based testing and inspection engagements, ICP connections work under NERS registration, multi-year framework contracts with local authorities (e.g., Essex Highways 82,000-lantern LED retrofit), and training fees from both internal staff development and external industry participants. Distribution is exclusively direct B2B field sales targeting UK local authorities, Tier 1 highway contractors, and Distribution Network Operators, with services procured through tenders and framework agreements. AMP introduces a recurring-revenue subscription element with multiple free client logins, though services remain predominantly quote-based. The company assesses 500,000+ street lights annually and maintains ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, UKAS ISO 17020, NERS, and HERS Gold certifications, with UKAS ISO 17020 positioning it as the only UK highways services provider with this inspection body accreditation.

Customer concentration spans government, utilities, and enterprise contractors, with multi-year framework renewals (e.g., Falkirk Council's 6th consecutive contract award) signalling high client retention. The combination of unique regulatory accreditations, proprietary testing technology, and proprietary asset data creates defensible positioning in a niche market where accreditation requirements function as structural barriers to entry for competitors.

Name

Electrical Testing

Legal name

Electrical Testing Ltd

Website

https://electricaltesting.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Electrical Testing is a UK specialist highway electrical contractor founded in 1990, delivering structural testing, NERS-accredited ICP connections, and apprenticeship training to local authorities, contractors, and Distribution Network Operators via proprietary Dipstik® technology and its AMP asset management platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Highway Electrical Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Testing & Certification (Protection Relays, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAEAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Testing, Commissioning & Electrical Safety (NFPA 70E/Arc Flash) (EDAOABAM), Cable Fault Location, Testing & Repair (MV/LV) (EUAEACAM)

Keywords

• Highway electrical testing
• Street lighting inspection
• ICP connections services
• Highway electrical training
• Structural column testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Highway Electrical Testing Services: Core revenue from electrical and structural testing of street lighting columns, highway electrical assets, fault finding, route tracing, and inventory collection. Services delivered by trained operatives using proprietary Dipstik technology and tablet-based data capture.
2. NERs Connections Work: Full scope of NERS LV activity including design and connections up to 400amp supplies. ICP (Independent Connections Provider) services for new connections, disconnections, and transfers across UK Distribution Network Operator areas.
3. Training Services: Government-accredited training provider offering City and Guilds, Lantra, HESA, and EUSR courses. Provider of Highway Electrical Apprenticeship programmes. Revenue from both internal staff training and external industry participants.
4. Asset Management Software: AMP platform provides clients with real-time asset data access, automated reports, and mapping views. Revenue generated through client subscriptions with multiple free user logins included.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Electrical Testing is a UK specialist highway electrical contractor delivering electrical and structural testing of street lighting columns and highway electrical assets, fault finding, route tracing, inventory collection, and LED retrofit services. It also provides NERS-accredited LV connections and jointing up to 400amp for Distribution Network Operators, and runs a City & Guilds, Lantra, and HESA accredited training centre that is the only government-backed provider of the Highway Electrical Apprenticeship. Operations are supported by proprietary Dipstik eddy-current testing devices and the in-house AMP asset management software platform.

Product overview

Electrical Testing Ltd operates as a provider of highways electrical services in the UK, organised into three main divisions: ETL Highways (electrical and structural testing, fault finding, route tracing, inventory collection), ETL Connections (NERS-accredited LV jointing and connections up to 400amp supplies), and ETL Training (City & Guilds, Lantra, HESA approved training centre and only government-accredited provider of Highway Electrical Apprenticeships). The company's technology portfolio includes proprietary products: AMP (Asset Management Platform) – an in-house developed map-based asset management system replacing Easyweb 5, offering real-time data capture via rugged tablets, automated reporting, and live asset views; the patented Dipstik® eddy current structural testing technology (now in Model C with digital display, Bluetooth, GPS, and aluminium column capability); and the legacy Easyweb 5 client portal. Additional services include BSEN40 structural design assessments and LED retrofit conversions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AMP (Asset Management Platform): In-house developed software platform that provides clients with live view of highway asset information, replacing previous system Easyweb. Features map-based approach, asset data capture, and automated reporting.
• Dipstik

Products and services

• ETL Highways Core highways service division delivering electrical and structural testing of street lighting columns, fault finding, route tracing, and inventory collection for UK local authorities and contractors, using trained operatives and proprietary Dipstik testing devices with tablet-based data capture.
• ETL Connections
• ETL Training City and Guilds, Lantra, and HESA accredited training centre and the only government-accredited provider of the Highway Electrical Apprenticeship, offering Level 2 and Level 3 NVQs, EUSR Power Skills Programme, and various highway electrical industry courses.
• Dipstik Patented eddy current structural testing technology for detecting loss of thickness in metal lighting columns. Assesses over 500,000 street lights annually with non-destructive testing and real-time digital data capture.
• AMP – Asset Management Platform In-house developed asset management software platform that provides clients with a live view of their highway asset information through a map-based interface, with API integration to established hardware and software providers, real-time data capture via rugged tablets, automated reporting, route tracing schematics, and full audit trail.
• Easyweb 5 Legacy web portal enabling clients to access structural and electrical testing data online, with modern dashboard, mapping, defects by street, and estimated residual life reporting. Superseded by the AMP platform.
• LED Retrofit Services
• Highway Electrical Apprenticeship Government-backed apprenticeship programme designed by employers in the sector with the Highway Electrical Association and Lantra Awards, providing Level 2 (Installation Operative) and Level 3 (Highway Electrician) qualifications with hands-on training and formal education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ street lights assessed annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) - Lloyd's RegistercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNERS accreditation under Lloyd's Register enables the company to operate as an Independent Connections Provider (ICP) on UK Distribution Network Operator areas. Company was the UK's first ICP to receive this registration, providing significant competitive advantage in contestable connection market.
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKAS accreditation (ISO/IEC 17020:2012) for inspection body status validates quality of inspection services for street lighting and road signs. Required by central and local government in tender processes.
• Energy & Utility Skills (EUSR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproved provider status for Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR) training programmes. Enables company to deliver Live LV Cable Jointing training and issue EUSR competency cards recognised across ICPs and DNOs. Also delivers Power Skills Programme.
• Highway Electrical Association (HEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for highway electrical sector. Company participates in HERS (Highway Electrical Registration Scheme), HEA Awards programmes, and industry standard development. HEA Gold Approved status achieved.
• City and Guilds, Lantra Awards, HESAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited training centre offering City and Guilds, Lantra Awards, and HESA-certified courses for highway electrical industry. Also approved apprenticeship provider under government apprenticeship levy scheme.
• Northern Power GridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on OHL (Overhead Lines) activity pilot programme to make overhead work contestable on their network. Company contributing knowledge and experience to help meet OFGEM ICE targets.
• UK Power NetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative policy development for SWA (Steel Wire Armour) cable work on UKPN networks. Company's engineering team contributed to policy changes enabling ICPs to safely work with SWA cables under live conditions, saving local authorities significant costs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Amey plc: Large UK infrastructure services firm (Ferrovial-owned) providing highways maintenance, lighting and electrical asset management to local authorities. Offers overlapping capability but as part of a much wider infrastructure services portfolio rather than a specialist highway electrical contractor.
• Kier Group: UK-listed infrastructure services and construction contractor with highway maintenance, term maintenance and electrical infrastructure offerings. Larger generalist contractor addressing local authority clients with broader end-to-end portfolio.
• Balfour Beatty: Major UK-listed infrastructure group delivering highways, transportation and electrical infrastructure services. Operates in adjacent segments with broader portfolio of services; competes for term maintenance and large infrastructure contracts.
• M Group Services: UK infrastructure services group (parent of Morrison Utility Services) with strong presence in power distribution connections, ICP/NERS-accredited activity and utility civils. Overlaps with ETL Connections division and operates across multiple infrastructure verticals.
• Colas UK: UK subsidiary of Bouygues-owned Colas providing road, street lighting and traffic management services to local authorities. Directly competes for term maintenance contracts across UK with broader portfolio including materials and civil engineering.
• Skanska UK: UK arm of Swedish infrastructure group providing highway, public realm and electrical infrastructure construction and maintenance. Larger-scale generalist infrastructure contractor with adjacent capabilities rather than specialist highway electrical focus.

Others

• Megger: UK-headquartered global manufacturer of electrical test and measurement instruments used across power utility and industrial testing. Functions as enabling technology supplier in the broader electrical testing ecosystem rather than competing as a service contractor.

Direct peers

• VolkerHighways: Specialist UK highway infrastructure services contractor delivering street lighting, signage, civils and traffic management. Competes head-to-head with ETL for term maintenance contracts and employs structurally similar NERS/HERS-credentialed field capability.
• EA Technology: UK-headquartered specialist in electrical testing, condition monitoring and asset management services for power network operators and asset owners. Comparable specialist testing/asset management services franchise to ETL Highways and the new AMP platform.
• McCann & Co Ltd: Long-established UK highway electrical contractor providing installation, maintenance and structural/electrical testing for street lighting, traffic signals and signage. Directly competes in the same specialist highway electrical services niche for local authority and tier-1 contractor clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/electest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCswcGdGSiUa6UcVy9Lbx85w/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/electrical-testing-ltd

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Electrical Testing