KAEFER

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.

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

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

• Industrial services
• Access solutions
• Protective coatings
• Asbestos management
• Asset integrity

Headquarters

HQ city

Jarrow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AquAidminorOthers · 26 January 2026Through partnership with AquAid, KAEFER UK & Ireland supports long-term clean water projects that make a meaningful difference to communities in need.
• Aspire AcademyminorOthers · 14 January 2026KAEFER UK & Ireland partnership with Aspire Academy to support skills, wellbeing and employment in West Cumbria.
• Down's Syndrome ScotlandminorOthers · 31 October 2025Five-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 SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025KAEFER's Govan and Scotstoun teams achieved 1,000 inspections without defect on BAE Systems' Type 26 frigates.
• Nuclear Restoration ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Five-year contract phase 2 with Nuclear Restoration Services providing continued access and insulation services.
• Down's Syndrome Association and Down Syndrome IrelandminorOthers · 3 March 2025KAEFER 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 ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2025KAEFER 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 LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2025Sellafield Ltd awarded £95 million Industrial Services Contract to KAEFER UK & Ireland for nuclear decommissioning operations.
• KAEFER Group (Parent)coreOthers · 23 January 2024Global 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 GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2023KAEFER 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2023KAEFER providing containment liner coatings, surface protection, and access solutions for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station being built for EDF Energy.
• Magnox LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2023KAEFER 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 BallylumfordminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2022New 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 GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2022KAEFER 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 EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2021KAEFER in Ireland secured maintenance contract extension with Vermilion Energy for Bellanaboy Bridge gas terminal, further strengthening relationship.
• Babcock International GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2021KAEFER strengthened strategic partnership with Babcock by securing new marine industrial services framework agreement, building on existing relationship at Rosyth facilities.
• Wood GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2021Three-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 LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020£90m Industrial Services Framework contract renewal with Sellafield Ltd, extending long-term relationship for industrial services provision.
• Wood Group Industrial Services (Legal Merger)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020KAEFER 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 ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2020KAEFER 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/KAEFERLtd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kaeferuki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaeferuki
• Instagraminstagram.com/kaeferuki
• Facebookfacebook.com/KAEFERLtd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 KAEFER