Geotechnics
Geotechnics Limited is a UK-based, privately held specialist contractor providing geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation, in-house laboratory testing, and technical reporting for water utilities, infrastructure, and development clients across England, Wales and Scotland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersCoventry, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Geotechnics does
Geotechnics Limited is a UK-based, privately held specialist contractor founded in 1983 by Len Threadgold, currently led by Managing Director Paul Hayes. The firm provides geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation services — including intrusive drilling (cable percussion and rotary with Geobore-S), in-situ testing (CPT, seismic refraction, downhole geophysical logging, packer testing), specialist techniques such as UXO clearance via Magcone CPT and inter-tidal deployment using a Hagglund Hybrid Cable Percussion rig — together with in-house laboratory testing of soils, rock and groundwater, and full technical reporting. It operates from four regional offices (Coventry, Chester, Exeter, Leeds) covering England, Wales and Scotland, and has completed over 30,000 projects across its 40-year history.
Geotechnics' commercial model is project-based professional services, with Bill-of-Quantities re-measurable pricing on frameworks and direct project appointments, delivered through enterprise field sales. Its customer base spans UK water utilities, infrastructure and construction developers, land development and acquisition clients, and (to a lesser extent) the energy sector. United Utilities Water is a flagship anchor client via the AMP7 framework covering the £1bn, 10-year Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme, alongside other major programmes such as Castlerigg Tunnel, Long Sewer Outfall, and Convoy's Wharf. The firm supplements its core crew with specialist subcontractors (Lankelma, Terradat, Drilcorp, South East Drilling, Geodrill) to scale on flagship projects.
The company invests in long-term capability through a Geological Society-accredited two-year Graduate Training Scheme and holds ISO 9001 quality management certification. Recognition includes the 2021 Ground Engineering Award for Ground Investigation Project of the Year (HARP) and an AECOM Safety Award. Ownership is independent and founder-family-led, with no external equity, parent group, or subsidiaries identified, and the firm operates as a domestic-only UK specialist with no international footprint.
Geotechnics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Geotechnics
- Legal name
- Geotechnics Limited
- Website
- https://geotechnics.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Geotechnics Limited is a UK-based, privately held specialist contractor providing geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation, in-house laboratory testing, and technical reporting for water utilities, infrastructure, and development clients across England, Wales and Scotland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Geotechnics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geotechnical Site Investigation Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK), Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing) (EUAHAFAE), Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers) (IMAFAOAH), Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)
Keywords
Where Geotechnics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Coventry
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Geotechnics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Geotechnical Site Investigation Services: Project-based professional services revenue from ground investigations, desk studies, and geotechnical and geoenvironmental reporting. Services delivered through direct client engagements and framework agreements with major utilities and infrastructure clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based professional services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Geotechnics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Geotechnics provides geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation services across the UK, including intrusive and non-intrusive ground investigation (cable percussion drilling, rotary drilling, CPT, seismic profiling), in-house laboratory testing of soil, rock and groundwater samples, and comprehensive geotechnical and geoenvironmental reporting. The firm supports infrastructure, utilities, construction, contaminated land, and energy projects through direct field operations delivered from four regional offices.
Product overview
Geotechnics offers a unified suite of geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation services organized around three core offerings: Ground Investigation (intrusive and non-intrusive field investigation including drilling, sampling, and in-situ testing), Laboratory Services (specialist testing of soil, rock, and groundwater samples), and Reporting (technical documentation and desk studies). The company operates across multiple UK offices (Chester, Coventry, Exeter, Leeds) serving sectors including utilities, infrastructure, energy, contaminated land redevelopment, and environmental projects. Founded in 1983, the company also runs a Graduate Training Scheme accredited by the Geological Society to develop engineering geologists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ground Investigation Intrusive and non-intrusive site investigation services for UK construction and infrastructure projects, including cable percussion drilling, rotary drilling, seismic profiling, downhole acoustic imaging, Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), and high pressure lugeon testing to assess ground conditions ahead of construction.
- Laboratory Services In-house geotechnical and geoenvironmental laboratory testing services for soil, rock, and groundwater samples, including geochemical analysis and specialist rock testing that support site investigation reporting.
- Reporting Geotechnical and geoenvironmental reporting services delivering comprehensive ground investigation reports, desk studies, and technical documentation for construction and development projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- Completed 30,000+ projects over 40+ years of operation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Geotechnics
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Geotechnics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Geotechnics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Lankelma LtdcoreSpecialist subcontractor for Static Cone Penetration Testing (CPT). Lankelma provided 15 CPT tests using an 18 tonne CPT track-mounted rig (UK8) equipped with 20 tonne capacity hydraulic ram for the Long Sewer Outfall Investigation project, with piezo and magnetic combination cone for UXO clearance, tip resistance, friction sleeve resistance and pore water pressure measurement.
- South East DrillingcoreSubcontractor partner for Convoy's Wharf project, working alongside Geotechnics project team led by Steve Chapman and Ian Boyle for the heritage-sensitive regeneration ground investigation.
- GeodrillcoreSubcontractor partner for Convoy's Wharf project, contributing to the challenging ground investigation on the complex heritage-sensitive site.
- DrilcorpcoreSpecialist sub-contractor engaged for Castlerigg Tunnel project, brought in for their expertise and established working relationships with landowners built over previous project elements.
- TerradatcoreSpecialist sub-contractor for initial non-intrusive Seismic refraction survey using proprietary tractor towed seismic generator to rapidly assess overburden thickness, rock strength and consistency along tunnel alignments.
- SOCOTEC UK LtdcoreCollaborative partner in 'Coping with COVID' initiative alongside Macklin Geotech, devising safe systems of work for geotechnical site investigation in line with UK government and industry guidelines on social distancing. Developed protective perspex screens for drilling plant and new working methodologies.
- Macklin GeotechcoreCollaborative partner in COVID-safe working practices initiative for HARP project, assisting Geotechnics and SOCOTEC in developing innovative solutions for site investigation during pandemic conditions.
- United Utilities WaterflagshipFramework supplier appointment under AMP7 as specialist geotechnical supplier for Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) - a £1bn, 10-year infrastructure project serving 2.5 million people in Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. UUW championed collaborative working and high levels of communication across disciplines.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Geotechnics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Geotechnical Engineering Ltd: UK geotechnical contractor and consultancy providing site investigation, grouting, ground improvement, and laboratory testing services. Closely comparable scope of services and target market to Geotechnics.
- Ian Farmer Associates: UK-based geotechnical and geoenvironmental consultancy delivering ground investigation, laboratory testing, and contaminated-land services to infrastructure, construction, and development clients — a closely comparable mid-sized UK specialist.
- Soil Engineering Geoservices: UK-based provider of geotechnical site investigation, drilling, in-situ testing, and geoenvironmental services serving infrastructure and development clients — a directly comparable specialist competitor.
- SOCOTEC UK: Largest UK geotechnical and geoenvironmental testing and investigation firm offering overlapping ground investigation, laboratory testing, and reporting services. Already works alongside Geotechnics on the HARP programme and is a primary direct competitor for UK utility and infrastructure frameworks.
Broad incumbents
- Bachy Soletanche: Part of the Soletanche Bachy group, providing geotechnical contracting including site investigation, piling, and ground engineering across the UK. Overlaps with Geotechnics on site investigation but is materially larger and broader in geotechnical contracting.
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with UK ground engineering and environmental services. Competitor for major UK infrastructure and utility ground investigation commissions, but Geotechnics operates as a specialist subcontractor beneath firms like AECOM on projects such as Didcot HIF GI.
- WSP UK: Global engineering consultancy with a substantial UK geotechnical practice delivering ground investigation, geotechnical design, and environmental services. Competes with Geotechnics for UK infrastructure and utility projects, but as part of a much broader multi-disciplinary portfolio.
- Mott MacDonald: UK-headquartered global engineering consultancy with significant ground engineering capability. Competes for water utility, rail, and highways ground investigation commissions alongside specialist firms like Geotechnics.
- Arup: Global engineering consultancy with established UK geotechnical practice covering site investigation, geotechnical design, and advisory. Competes with Geotechnics for high-end infrastructure and development projects but at materially larger scale and broader service scope.
Emerging players
- Lankelma: UK specialist in cone penetration testing (CPT) used by Geotechnics as a subcontractor on HARP and other projects. Niche CPT specialist with overlapping technical capability but limited overlap in full ground investigation and laboratory services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Geotechnics social profiles
Digital presenceGeotechnics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Geotechnics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Geotechnics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Geotechnics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Geotechnics 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 Geotechnics
What does Geotechnics do?
Geotechnics provides geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation services across the UK, including intrusive and non-intrusive ground investigation (cable percussion drilling, rotary drilling, CPT, seismic profiling), in-house laboratory testing of soil, rock and groundwater samples, and comprehensive geotechnical and geoenvironmental reporting. The firm supports infrastructure, utilities, construction, contaminated land, and energy projects through direct field operations delivered from four regional offices.
Is Geotechnics a public or private company?
Geotechnics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Geotechnics founded?
Geotechnics was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Geotechnics based?
Geotechnics is headquartered in Coventry, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Geotechnics make money?
One revenue line is on record: geotechnical Site Investigation Services.
Who are Geotechnics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Geotechnical Engineering Ltd, Ian Farmer Associates, Soil Engineering Geoservices and SOCOTEC UK. Broad incumbents are Bachy Soletanche, AECOM, WSP UK, Mott MacDonald and Arup. Lankelma is listed as an emerging player.
Does Geotechnics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Geotechnics.
What industry is Geotechnics in?
Geotechnics's product category is Geotechnical Site Investigation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAOAG, Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing), with a secondary code of IMAFAOAK, Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.