What CambridgeHOK does

CambridgeHOK is a specialist UK-based turnkey contractor operating in horticultural engineering, controlled environment agriculture, and energy infrastructure. Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Newport, Brough (East Yorkshire), the company operates through four divisions—Glasshouses, Vertical Farming, Horticultural Construction, and Energy—serving commercial growers (Dyson Farming, APS Salads, Flavourfresh, Fenland Glasshouse), garden centre operators (Bell Plantation, Perrywood), visitor attractions (Eden Project), educational institutions (Reaseheath College), and industrial clients. Since 2021, the company has operated as part of Atrium Agri, the world's largest horticultural engineering group, while management retains partial ownership.

The company delivers fully integrated controlled-environment facilities spanning design, structural engineering, mechanical/electrical engineering, project management, in-house steel fabrication (Execution Class 3 certified, up to S700 strength class), and on-site installation. Core technical capabilities include Venlo-style commercial glasshouses, vertical farming facilities, CHP energy centres up to 15MW with thermal storage, Priva-based BMS and cloud-based Priva BlueID climate control systems, and horticultural LED lighting installations. Innovation projects include CropCam, an AI-powered four-way shuttle robotic monitoring system for vertical farms (developed with SEC Storage and Agri Data Innovations), and the £3m government-funded AutoTom precision breeding initiative integrating CRISPR-Cas plant breeding with automated cultivation.

CambridgeHOK operates a project-based revenue model with contract values ranging from £5m to £20m+, delivering bespoke design-build solutions through direct enterprise sales, technical consultancy, and repeat-client relationships. The company recorded record annual turnover of £30 million in its 70th year and employs more than 60 specialists across engineering, fabrication, and project delivery. International projects are pursued through the Atrium Agri partnership network, extending reach into Europe and the Middle East, while ongoing R&D partnerships target AI-driven monitoring, automated breeding, hydrogen energy, and medical cannabis facility applications.

Name

CambridgeHOK

Legal name

CambridgeHOK Limited

Website

https://cambridgehok.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CambridgeHOK is a UK turnkey contractor designing and building commercial glasshouses, vertical farms, energy centres, and horticultural infrastructure for commercial growers, garden centres, and research institutions, with £30M annual turnover and 60+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horticultural Engineering & Construction

NAICS

Building Equipment Contractors (2382), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Operative Builders (1531), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Food & Beverage Processing Plant Construction (IMAFADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chillers, Boilers & Central Plant Operations (BPABACAG)

Keywords

• Horticultural engineering services
• Glasshouse construction contractor
• Vertical farming facilities
• Controlled environment agriculture
• Commercial greenhouse design build

Headquarters

HQ city

Brough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Turnkey Project Delivery: Full design-build contracts for glasshouses, vertical farms, horticultural buildings, and energy centres. Revenue recognised on project completion. Projects range from £5m to £20m+, including civil works, structural steel, mechanical and electrical systems.
2. BMS and Climate Control Installation & Maintenance: Supply and installation of building management systems, climate controls, and ongoing optimisation services. Recurring revenue through annual adjustments and support contracts.
3. R&D and Project Consulting: Technical advisory and consultancy services including business case development, planning applications, design, pricing, and profitability assessments. Supply of business cases for investment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CambridgeHOK is a specialist turnkey contractor that designs, engineers, fabricates, and constructs commercial glasshouses, vertical farming facilities, horticultural buildings, packhouses, cold stores, garden centres, and energy centres. The in-house team of 60+ employees covers structural engineering, mechanical/electrical systems, computer controls, steel fabrication, and project management, delivering projects from concept and planning through construction, commissioning, and handover. Projects range from £5m to £20m+ for commercial growers, garden centres, educational institutions, and government clients.

Product overview

CambridgeHOK is a horticultural engineering group operating four specialist divisions: Glasshouse & Greenhouse Design & Build, Vertical Farming Systems, Horticultural Construction, and Energy Solutions. The company functions as a unified turnkey contractor offering engineering, design, fabrication, and construction services rather than a single software product or modular platform. Core offerings include glasshouse construction (Venlo-style, research, conservatories), vertical farming facilities with automated growing systems, CHOKTainer hydroponic containers, automated packhouse and cold store facilities, Building Management Systems (Priva-based BMS and climate controls), Combined Heat and Power energy centres, horticultural LED lighting installations, garden centre design and build, civil engineering services, and refrigeration systems. Manufacturing capabilities include steel fabrication with Execution Class 3 certification and bespoke structural components. The company also offers CropCam, an AI-powered crop monitoring technology developed through a strategic partnership with SEC Storage and Agri Data Innovations. Projects range from small installations to multi-hectare commercial facilities and £20m+ construction contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CropCam: AI-powered monitoring technology for vertical farming featuring a four-way shuttle robotic system that transports sensors and camera arrays throughout growing areas
• AutoTom

Products and services

• Glasshouse & Greenhouse Design & Build Design, engineering, fabrication, and construction of bespoke commercial, research, and conservatory glasshouses for commercial growers and research institutions.
• Vertical Farming Systems Turnkey design and construction of climate-controlled vertical farming facilities for year-round production of fresh produce, including automated growing systems and AI-powered monitoring.
• Horticultural Construction Turnkey construction services for industrial, commercial, energy, and food processing facilities including warehouses, packhouses, cold stores, and manufacturing facilities up to £20m.
• Energy Solutions Energy technology innovations including Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, renewable heating, Building Management Systems, and energy modelling, achieving energy savings in excess of 25% for clients.
• Automated Packhouse & Cold Store Facilities Design and construction of fully automated packhouse and cold store facilities with sorting, grading, quality-checking, wrapping, and boxing systems for produce handling.
• CHOKTainer Hydroponic Growing System A complete hydroponic growing system housed in a shipping container with Philips LED lighting, Priva environmental controls, HVAC, and electrical installations for year-round production in any location.
• Philips GrowWise LED Research Facility Vertical farming research centre solutions using Philips GreenPower LED lighting with customisable light spectra, climate-controlled rooms, variable lighting recipes, irrigation systems, and full environmental monitoring.
• Building Management System (BMS) Installation Smart building management systems including Priva BlueID cloud-based solutions for complete climate control, integration with existing client infrastructure, and ongoing optimisation.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Energy Centres Design and construction of CHP energy centres providing heat, power, and CO2 for horticultural facilities with engine installations up to 15MW, thermal storage, and grid connections.
• Horticultural LED Lighting Installation Installation of horticultural LED lighting systems including top-lighting, inter-lighting, and customisable spectra solutions for year-round growing with CHP integration and automated programming.
• Garden Centre Design & Build Design and construction of garden centre facilities including retail spaces, cafes, extensions, and glasshouses for garden centre operators seeking to expand or diversify.
• Construction & Civils Civil engineering and commercial construction services including structural builds, warehousing, manufacturing facilities, site clearance, roads, drainage, and flooring.
• Refrigeration Systems Industrial refrigeration solutions through the CambridgeHOK Refrigeration division for food production and storage facilities, including cold store construction and temperature-controlled environments.
• Execution Class 3 Steel Fabrication Load-bearing and welded structural steel fabrication up to Execution Class 3 standards with steel structures up to S700 strength class, including aluminium structural components.
• CropCam AI-Powered Monitoring System AI-powered crop monitoring technology using a four-way shuttle robotic system that transports sensors and camera arrays throughout vertical farms, providing real-time crop tracking, irregularity detection, and yield optimisation insights.
• CHP Energy Centre Design, construction, and fit-out of Combined Heat and Power energy centres for commercial glasshouse growers with engine installation, CO2 distribution, thermal storage, and integration with existing infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings of over 25% achieved for clients through knowledge of new technologies.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atrium AgricoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, CambridgeHOK became part of Atrium Agri, the world's largest horticultural engineering group. The group comprises independent companies including CambridgeHOK, PB tec, VB, Havecon, Bom Group, JB Hydroponics, and VEK consultants. They share knowledge, purchasing power, and R&D to respond to rapid changes in international horticulture while maintaining individual corporate identities. The aim is to use joint experience and technical expertise to realise large and complex projects worldwide as a single powerful platform.
• SEC StoragecoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership between CambridgeHOK and SEC Storage to develop CropCam, an AI-powered four-way shuttle robotic system for vertical farms. SEC Storage provides warehouse automation and data-driven logistics expertise, while CambridgeHOK contributes horticultural engineering and system integration capabilities.
• Agri Data InnovationscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership providing AI and analytical technology for the CropCam system. Agri Data Innovations contributes crop monitoring expertise through sophisticated algorithms that process high-resolution images captured by the CropCam robotic system, enabling real-time crop tracking, irregularity detection, and actionable insights.
• University of LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in the AutoTom precision breeding project. The University of Lincoln's geothermal glasshouse research facility (built by CambridgeHOK) will be used for testing and refining the automated tomato breeding system, employing digital tools and data-driven techniques to optimise plant performance and system efficiency.
• APS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's largest tomato grower collaborating on the AutoTom precision breeding project, bringing extensive commercial production expertise to ensure the technology is practical at scale and aligned with the requirements of growers, retailers, and supermarket supply chains.
• Phytoform LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides advanced CRISPR-Cas plant breeding technology integrated with automated greenhouse systems for the AutoTom project, developing compact tomato plants designed for automated handling and harvesting.
• British Tomato Growers' AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides over 30 years of agronomic expertise and access to a 210-hectare network of potential growers for the AutoTom precision breeding project.
• PrivacoreTechnology or IntegrationCambridgeHOK works closely with Priva as one of their installers, fitting complex energy systems including Priva BMS and the latest cloud-based Priva BlueID smart building management systems. The partnership enables complete climate control and building management solutions for horticultural and commercial clients.
• Philips Horticulture (Signify)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Philips (Signify) for LED lighting solutions including Philips GreenPower LEDs, GrowWise research facilities, and custom lighting recipes for vertical farming and glasshouse applications. CambridgeHOK completed the LED research facility at Philips' GrowWise City Farming Research Center in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
• LettUs GrowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to accelerate the use of Advanced Aeroponics™ in UK commercial horticulture. CambridgeHOK and LettUs Grow exhibited together at the Chelsea Flower Show, combining CambridgeHOK's engineering capabilities with LettUs Grow's aeroponic growing technology.
• CravominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCambridgeHOK is the official UK build supplier for Cravo's cricket training facilities, providing design and construction expertise for Cravo's retractable roof structures in the UK market.
• Protium Green SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to transform the UK horticulture sector through hydrogen energy solutions, exploring renewable energy options for glasshouse and vertical farming operations.
• Woodley BioRegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within CROP17, a specialist medical cannabis facilities consortium. Woodley BioReg provides pharmaceutical regulatory expertise alongside CambridgeHOK's facility design and construction capabilities for medical cannabis production.
• FargrominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to offer CambridgeHOK's climate, energy, and lighting solutions to Fargro's customer base of horticultural product specialists, extending market reach for CambridgeHOK's offerings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Havecon: Sister company within Atrium Agri, building Venlo-style glasshouses and turnkey horticultural projects primarily across the Benelux and international markets. Directly comparable in core product (commercial glasshouse construction), target customer (commercial growers), and engineering-driven delivery model.
• Bom Group: Dutch turnkey horticultural construction firm and Atrium Agri sister company, focused on complete greenhouse and technical installations for commercial growers. Highly comparable in scope (glasshouse + climate + irrigation), customer base, and turnkey engineering approach.
• PB tec: Atrium Agri sister company specialising in technical installations (lighting, screening, climate, irrigation) for high-tech greenhouses. Comparable on the technical-installation side of CambridgeHOK's energy/vertical farming offering, addressing overlapping grower customers.
• Kubo Group: Long-established Dutch turnkey greenhouse builder (Ultra-Clima concept) serving international commercial growers. Closely comparable product offering and customer profile, and a leading competitor to Atrium Agri member companies in global turnkey greenhouse projects.
• Certhon: Dutch horticultural turnkey contractor building greenhouses and high-tech indoor growing facilities across Europe and beyond. Comparable in scale and product breadth (greenhouses, vertical farms, technical systems) and competes head-to-head for international commercial projects.
• Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects: Dutch-based turnkey horticultural builder designing and constructing high-tech commercial greenhouses globally. Directly comparable on custom glasshouse engineering, international project delivery, and enterprise grower customer base.

Emerging players

• LettUs Grow: UK-based aeroponic vertical farming technology company partnering with CambridgeHOK (Chelsea Flower Show joint exhibition). Comparable on the vertical farming/CEA infrastructure side but as a technology supplier rather than a full turnkey contractor; represents a partner-adjacent peer.

Others

• Priva: Leading global supplier of climate control and building management systems for horticulture; CambridgeHOK is a key UK installer of Priva BMS and BlueID. Not a direct competitor, but a tightly coupled partner whose roadmap and product strategy directly shape CambridgeHOK's energy and controls offering.
• Signify (Philips Horticulture): Global horticultural LED lighting supplier (Philips GreenPower) and partner whose GrowWise research facility was built by CambridgeHOK. Adjacent/partner peer rather than competitor; deep technology coupling on lighting recipes for glasshouse and vertical farm projects.

Regional players

• Richel Group: French turnkey greenhouse manufacturer and constructor serving primarily French, Mediterranean, and African horticultural markets. Comparable product (commercial glasshouses, technical installations) and turnkey approach, but with regional focus that overlaps rather than directly competes in the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cambridgehok
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridgehok

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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 CambridgeHOK