KAEFER
KAEFER UK & Ireland delivers technical industrial services—scaffolding, insulation, protective coatings, asbestos management, NDT, and fabrication—to nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial clients under long-term framework contracts. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's KAEFER Group employs roughly 3,000 people and reported £318m revenue in FY23.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersJarrow, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What KAEFER does
KAEFER UK & Ireland delivers technical industrial services, including scaffolding and access solutions, thermal insulation, specialist protective coatings, passive fire protection, non-destructive testing and inspection, asbestos management, electrical services, precision fabrication and ductwork, and demolition management, to nuclear, defence, energy, and general industrial clients. Originally established in 1971 as C&D Insulation Operations, the business was fully acquired by Germany's KAEFER Group in 2012 and materially expanded in February 2020 through the acquisition of Wood Group Industrial Services (adding ~2,000 employees across 16 UK & Ireland locations), followed by a legal merger into KAEFER Limited on 31 August 2020. The UK & Ireland arm currently employs approximately 3,000 staff and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within a global group of 30,000+ employees across 150+ cities in approximately 25 countries; the global parent was reported in March 2026 to be exploring a stake sale at a €2bn+ valuation.
The service portfolio is delivered through long-term framework agreements and project-based contracts with safety-critical clients. Major nuclear exposure spans the £95m Sellafield industrial services contract (2025), a six-year Magnox decommissioning framework, four- and five-year Nuclear Restoration Services contracts for Hunterston B transition into decommissioning, and the Containment Liner Coating Package at EDF's Hinkley Point C (executed through the Bylor joint venture with Babcock, applying coatings across containment liner steel and concrete). Defence work includes £22m marine surface protection contracts on Babcock's Type 31 frigate programme and insulation services on BAE Systems' Type 26 frigates (1,000 inspection-without-defect milestone cited). Energy and industrial work covers Equinor's Mariner field (via Wood), Shell FNGL Mossmorran, Vermilion Energy's Bellanaboy Bridge terminal, and EP Kilroot/Ballylumford in Northern Ireland.
KAEFER UK & Ireland generated £318m of revenue in FY23, up from £198m in FY20 (per CEO Chris Foulkes), with a separate reference of c.£250m annual turnover appearing in a 2022 press release. Head office relocated to Newcastle Quayside in January 2026, joining existing hubs at Jarrow (fabrication facility, recently BS EN 3834/EN 1090 accredited), West Lakes (Sellafield-servicing, 20+ years), Belfast, and operational sites at Devonport, Govan and Scotstoun. Revenue mechanics rely on negotiated framework and project pricing (not publicly disclosed), supported by direct enterprise sales and dedicated account management for nuclear operators, defence primes, and energy majors.
KAEFER firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KAEFER
- Legal name
- KAEFER Limited
- Website
- https://kaeferltd.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- KAEFER UK & Ireland delivers technical industrial services—scaffolding, insulation, protective coatings, asbestos management, NDT, and fabrication—to nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial clients under long-term framework contracts. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's KAEFER Group employs roughly 3,000 people and reported £318m revenue in FY23.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KAEFER industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (54133), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insulation, Scaffolding & Access Services (ISA) (IMAIACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fire Protection Systems Contracting (Sprinklers, Alarms, Suppression) (IMAFALAD), Low-Voltage & Security Systems Contracting (Access Control, CCTV, Intrusion) (IMAFALAF), Specialty Access & Scaffolding Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAL)
Keywords
Where KAEFER is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jarrow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
KAEFER business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Services Contracts: Long-term framework contracts and project-based services for technical industrial services including scaffolding, insulation, protective coatings, access solutions, and asbestos management.
- Asset Integrity Services: Services ensuring the integrity, value, and longevity of client assets across nuclear, defence, energy and industrial sectors.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
KAEFER product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KAEFER UK & Ireland provides technical industrial services including access solutions (scaffolding), thermal insulation, protective coatings, passive fire protection, non-destructive inspection and testing, asbestos management and removal, electrical services, precision steel fabrication and ductwork, and demolition management. Services are delivered primarily under long-term framework contracts and project-based engagements to enterprise clients in the nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial sectors across the UK and Ireland.
Product overview
KAEFER UK & Ireland is a leading provider of technical industrial services operating as part of the global KAEFER Group. The company delivers a comprehensive portfolio of integrated asset integrity services across nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial sectors. The core service offering encompasses scaffolding and access solutions, insulation services, protective coatings (with robotic and digital innovations), passive fire protection, inspection and testing (NDT), asbestos management and removal, electrical services, fabrication and ductwork, and demolition management. Services are delivered through skilled personnel supported by LEAN methodologies, digital project management systems (DPMS), and equipment tagging systems (EZY ID). The company focuses on improving energy efficiency and extending asset life cycles for clients' critical infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scaffolding & Access Solutions Specialist scaffolding and access solutions providing safe working platforms for industrial projects, including innovative suspended scaffold designs for complex environments such as nuclear facilities. Used by clients in nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial sectors requiring safe access for maintenance, coatings, and decommissioning work.
- Insulation Services Thermal insulation services for industrial applications, including pipework, vessels, and equipment, contributing to energy efficiency and asset protection for clients in nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial sectors.
- Protective Coatings Specialist surface protection and coating application services including blast cleaning, priming, and application of protective paint systems for industrial and nuclear environments, with robotic and digital innovations deployed at sites such as Devonport Dockyard.
- Passive Fire Protection
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue growth from £198M in FY20 to £318M in FY23
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use KAEFER
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KAEFER technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
KAEFER partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- AquAidminorThrough partnership with AquAid, KAEFER UK & Ireland supports long-term clean water projects that make a meaningful difference to communities in need.
- Aspire AcademyminorKAEFER UK & Ireland partnership with Aspire Academy to support skills, wellbeing and employment in West Cumbria.
- Down's Syndrome ScotlandminorFive-year corporate partnership with Down's Syndrome Scotland celebrated at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, supporting people with Down's syndrome across Scotland through skills, wellbeing and employment initiatives.
- BAE SystemscoreKAEFER's Govan and Scotstoun teams achieved 1,000 inspections without defect on BAE Systems' Type 26 frigates.
- Nuclear Restoration ServicescoreFive-year contract phase 2 with Nuclear Restoration Services providing continued access and insulation services.
- Down's Syndrome Association and Down Syndrome IrelandminorKAEFER supports the Down's Syndrome Association, Down's Syndrome Scotland, and Down Syndrome Ireland through Challenge21 and Lots of Socks initiatives for Down Syndrome Awareness Week.
- Nuclear Restoration ServicescoreKAEFER UK & Ireland signed a four-year contract with Nuclear Restoration Services for major access and insulation services, supporting the transition of Hunterston B into decommissioning under Nuclear Restoration Services.
- Sellafield LtdcoreSellafield Ltd awarded £95 million Industrial Services Contract to KAEFER UK & Ireland for nuclear decommissioning operations.
- KAEFER Group (Parent)coreGlobal KAEFER Group with 30,000+ employees worldwide provides shared services, innovation, technical excellence, and corporate initiatives across all regional operations including UK & Ireland.
- Babcock International GroupcoreKAEFER responsible for delivering the Containment Liner Coating Package for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, working with Babcock as part of the Bylor joint venture.
- EDF Energy (Hinkley Point C)coreKAEFER providing containment liner coatings, surface protection, and access solutions for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station being built for EDF Energy.
- Magnox LtdcoreKAEFER UK & Ireland was awarded a six-year framework contract to meet the needs of the Magnox Ltd decommissioning programme across the UK. Services include asbestos removal, demolition management, and deplanting technical industrial services. KAEFER has been a proud supplier to Magnox for over ten years.
- EP Kilroot & EP BallylumfordminorNew two-year maintenance contracts with EP Kilroot Ltd and EP Ballylumford Ltd to provide electrical and scaffolding services to their power stations in Northern Ireland, which together provide over 45% of Northern Ireland's electricity demand.
- Babcock International GroupcoreKAEFER secured a long-term £22m contract with Babcock to provide technical surface protection to the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate programme. The shipbuilding programme continues until 2028, bringing continuity of work for KAEFER's existing industrial services workforce at Babcock's Rosyth facilities with new employment opportunities. KAEFER will apply over 510,000m² of specialist paint coatings for 70 additional painters and support staff.
- Vermilion EnergyminorKAEFER in Ireland secured maintenance contract extension with Vermilion Energy for Bellanaboy Bridge gas terminal, further strengthening relationship.
- Babcock International GroupcoreKAEFER strengthened strategic partnership with Babcock by securing new marine industrial services framework agreement, building on existing relationship at Rosyth facilities.
- Wood GroupminorThree-year agreement with Wood to deliver industrial support services at Equinor's Mariner field, with KAEFER strengthening partnership with Wood through this offshore services collaboration.
- Sellafield Ltdcore£90m Industrial Services Framework contract renewal with Sellafield Ltd, extending long-term relationship for industrial services provision.
- Wood Group Industrial Services (Legal Merger)coreKAEFER Limited and Wood Group Industrial Services legally merged on 31st August 2020, now operating as KAEFER Limited across the UK & Ireland. The merger combined full capabilities of both organizations into one unified company.
- Wood Group Industrial ServicescoreKAEFER Group acquired Wood's industrial services business from John Wood Group PLC in the UK and Ireland. The business became a wholly owned subsidiary, planned to merge with KAEFER Ltd into one company operating as KAEFER across the UK and Ireland. The acquisition added approximately 2,000 highly skilled people at 16 locations, along with additional capacities, know-how and project management capabilities in protective coatings, access solutions, thermal insulation, and passive fire protection.
Scale indicators25 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KAEFER competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bilfinger: German-headquartered industrial services provider offering engineering, maintenance, insulation, scaffolding, and coatings across process industries, energy, and nuclear. Most direct broad-incumbent comparable to KAEFER Group given similar German industrial-services heritage and customer mix.
- SPIE SA: France-based multi-technical services group providing electrical, mechanical, and HVAC services to energy, industrial, and infrastructure clients. Comparable as a broader European technical services platform with energy and nuclear exposure.
- Skanska Industrial Solutions: UK arm of Swedish contractor providing industrial services, including coatings, insulation, and decommissioning support. Broad incumbent comparable to KAEFER's industrial services delivery, though Skanska is more construction-led than services-led.
Direct peers
- BrandSafway: Global leader in scaffolding and access solutions serving industrial, energy, and infrastructure customers. Closely comparable to KAEFER's core access solutions business and insulation offerings across nuclear, energy, and industrial end markets.
- Altrad: France-based global industrial services group providing scaffolding, insulation, coatings, and mechanical services to energy, petrochemical, and industrial clients. Direct comparable to KAEFER's integrated industrial services portfolio across Europe and globally.
- Cape Industrial Services: UK-based industrial services provider (now part of Altrad) historically competing head-to-head with KAEFER on UK nuclear, oil & gas, and industrial access/coatings work. Closely comparable services and customer base in the UK and Ireland.
- Doosan Babcock: Engineering and services provider for nuclear, thermal power, and defence customers in the UK. Overlaps with KAEFER's nuclear new build (Hinkley Point C) and defence/energy industrial services work, and operates in similar UK regulated end markets.
- Turner Access: UK-headquartered scaffolding and access solutions provider serving construction, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Direct peer in scaffolding and access services, though with narrower scope than KAEFER's full-service offering.
- Hertel: Netherlands-based industrial services specialist providing scaffolding, insulation, passive fire protection, and coatings for oil & gas, petrochemical, and energy clients. Direct peer in core service categories, though with different geographic mix.
Regional players
- Stork Technical Services (Fluor): Originally Dutch, now part of Fluor, providing asset integrity, maintenance, and modification services to oil & gas, power, and process industries in Europe. Comparable to KAEFER's energy and offshore industrial services business, including the Wood Group heritage overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KAEFER social profiles
Digital presenceKAEFER compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
KAEFER financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KAEFER leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
KAEFER subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
KAEFER funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KAEFER M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KAEFER
What does KAEFER do?
KAEFER UK & Ireland provides technical industrial services including access solutions (scaffolding), thermal insulation, protective coatings, passive fire protection, non-destructive inspection and testing, asbestos management and removal, electrical services, precision steel fabrication and ductwork, and demolition management. Services are delivered primarily under long-term framework contracts and project-based engagements to enterprise clients in the nuclear, defence, energy, and industrial sectors across the UK and Ireland.
Is KAEFER a public or private company?
KAEFER is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was KAEFER founded?
KAEFER was founded in 1971. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is KAEFER based?
KAEFER is headquartered in Jarrow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does KAEFER make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Industrial Services Contracts are the primary driver. The others are asset Integrity Services.
Who are KAEFER's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bilfinger, SPIE SA and Skanska Industrial Solutions. Direct peers are BrandSafway, Altrad, Cape Industrial Services, Doosan Babcock, Turner Access and Hertel. Stork Technical Services (Fluor) is listed as a regional player.
Does KAEFER have an API?
No public API is recorded for KAEFER.
What industry is KAEFER in?
KAEFER's product category is Industrial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIACAF, Insulation, Scaffolding & Access Services (ISA), with a secondary code of IMAFALAD, Fire Protection Systems Contracting (Sprinklers, Alarms, Suppression). Its NAICS code is 54133 and its SIC code is 8711.