Askam Civil Engineering
Askam Civil Engineering Limited is a family-run UK civil engineering contractor, founded 1986, delivering project-based water, energy, industrial, waterways, highways and public realm works for public and private sector clients via competitive tendering.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersLancaster, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Askam Civil Engineering does
Askam Civil Engineering Limited is a privately held, family-run UK civil engineering contractor headquartered at Askam House, Hampson, Lancaster, with a satellite plant store in Oakenclough. Founded in 1986 by Managing Director John Lowery and incorporated under its current name in 2014, the company delivers project-based civil engineering services across six service verticals: Clean & Waste Water (the founding specialty), Energy & Renewables, Industrial & Commercial, Rivers & Waterways, Highways & Infrastructure, and Public Realm. Works span treatment facilities, reservoir and dock wall repairs, Bio-CNG refuelling stations, hydro and wind schemes, industrial plant extensions, canal and weir construction, highways, cycleways, and amphitheatres, supported by an in-house Design & Build capability and a plant hire subsidiary (Askam Plant Hire) covering rollers, excavators, dumpers, breakers and bowsers.
The firm operates a sales-led, tender-driven B2B go-to-market, acquiring work through competitive bidding and direct negotiation with public sector bodies (Lancashire County Council, Highways England, Environment Agency, British Waterways, Canal River Trust) and private enterprise clients (Lancaster University, CNG Fuels Ltd, Cemex, Pincroft Dyeing & Printing, GA Pet Foods, Innogy Business Services). Revenue is generated from one-off project contracts rather than recurring licences or subscriptions, with no public pricing or revenue disclosure. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified, CHAS-accredited, and holds Gold Standard status through Constructionline, CeCa and Build UK — credentials that function as tender prerequisites in UK public sector procurement.
Operationally, delivery is performed by directly employed teams supplemented by subcontractors (e.g. RTC for SBRA surfacing), with workforce development structured around annual apprenticeships via Preston College (Level 4 HNC Civil Engineering) and Skills Construction Centre (Level 2 Construction Operations). The company remains under family ownership with no external investors, no parent company, no subsidiaries beyond the plant hire operation, and no disclosed M&A activity. Customer concentration is diversified across sectors but revenue is inherently project-lumpy given the tender-based model.
Askam Civil Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Askam Civil Engineering
- Legal name
- Askam Civil Engineering Limited
- Website
- https://askam.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Askam Civil Engineering Limited is a family-run UK civil engineering contractor, founded 1986, delivering project-based water, energy, industrial, waterways, highways and public realm works for public and private sector clients via competitive tendering.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Askam Civil Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110), Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Engineering Services (541330)
- SIC
- Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA), Balance-of-Plant (BOP) & Civil Works for Power Plants (EUAEAAAL), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE), Right-of-way access, foundations & civil works for T&D projects (EUADAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Askam Civil Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Askam Civil Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Civil Engineering Projects: Project-based civil engineering contracts delivering water, energy, industrial, public realm, highways and infrastructure projects for public and private sector clients across the UK.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Askam Civil Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Askam Civil Engineering is a family-run civil engineering contractor founded in 1986 and based in Lancaster, UK. The company delivers turnkey construction and engineering services across clean and waste water, energy and renewables, industrial and commercial, rivers and waterways, highways and infrastructure, and public realm projects. It also operates an in-house plant hire division and offers design-and-build capability for both public sector authorities and private developers.
Product overview
Askam Civil Engineering is a family-run civil engineering company established in 1986, operating as a single integrated service provider rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company offers a unified portfolio of civil engineering services organized into six core service areas: Clean & Waste Water (the founding specialty), Energy & Renewables, Industrial & Commercial, Rivers & Waterways, Highways & Infrastructure, and Public Realm. Supporting these core services are the Design & Build offering (covering full project lifecycle) and Askam Plant Hire (equipment rental). The company operates across the UK with projects spanning water infrastructure, renewable energy facilities, industrial buildings, canal/river works, highways, and public realm improvements. Services are delivered directly by the company's own workforce including apprentices, supported by a subsidiary plant hire operation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Askam Plant Hire: Plant and equipment hire service including rollers, excavators, dumpers, breakers, bowsers and more
Products and services
- Clean & Waste Water Services Civil engineering construction and maintenance services for clean water and waste water infrastructure, delivered for statutory agencies and private clients.
- Energy & Renewables Services Civil engineering works supporting energy and renewable energy schemes for utility operators and energy developers.
- Industrial & Commercial Services Civil engineering construction services for industrial and commercial sites, including groundworks, drainage, and site infrastructure for private developers and operators.
- Rivers & Waterways Services Civil engineering works on rivers, canals, and waterways, including embankment, channel, and watercourse construction delivered for agencies such as the Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust.
- Highways & Infrastructure Services Highways and infrastructure construction services, including road and associated infrastructure projects for county councils and highways authorities.
- Public Realm Services Civil engineering and public realm construction services for local authorities and developers, covering streetscape, public space, and urban infrastructure schemes.
- Design & Build Services Integrated design-and-build civil engineering service combining in-house engineering design with construction delivery for clients seeking a single-contractor solution.
- Askam Plant Hire In-house plant and equipment hire service offered alongside the firm's civil engineering contracting work, supplying plant for internal projects and external hire customers.
Companies that use Askam Civil Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Askam Civil Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Askam Civil Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Wilson MasonminorArchitectural design firm providing design services for the Edward Roberts Court project at Lancaster University. Wilson Mason designed the amphitheatre structure which Askam constructed.
- Highways EnglandcoreGovernment agency partnered with Lancashire County Council on the Haslingden Cycleway project as part of National Cycle Route 6. Askam delivered the civil engineering works.
- Lancashire County CouncilcoreLong-term public sector client for highways, infrastructure, and cycleway projects. Major client for the Haslingden Cycleway National Cycle Route 6 project.
- CNG Fuels LtdcoreOngoing partnership for construction of Bio-CNG refuelling stations across UK. Multiple completed projects including Castleford, Newton Aycliffe, Knowsley, and the largest CNG station in Europe at Warrington.
- Lancaster UniversitycoreClient for Edward Roberts Court amphitheatre project. Partnership with Wilson Mason, Askam, and supply chain for public realm construction.
- GA Pet FoodscoreClient for reinforced concrete effluent tank construction at Plocks Farm water treatment plant. 12-week project involving 300t reinforcement and 1200m3 concrete.
- RTC (Subcontractor)minorSubcontractor engaged for SBRA (Styrene Butadiene Rubber Aggregate) surfacing work on the Haslingden Cycleway project. Laid approximately 750sq.m of material.
- Fairhurst (Settle)minorLocal supplier of lego blocks for retaining wall construction. Supports local businesses ethos of the company.
- Skills Construction Centre (Kirkham)minorTraining provider for apprentice Groundworkers studying Level 2 Diploma in Construction Operations.
- Preston CollegeminorTraining provider for apprentice Civil Engineers studying Level 4 HNC in Civil Engineering with Site Technician Standard at Fulwood, Preston campus.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Askam Civil Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kier Group: Large UK-listed construction and infrastructure group covering highways, utilities, water, and public realm — overlaps with Askam's sectors but at significantly greater scale and capital base, representing both a competitor and a benchmark.
- Balfour Beatty: Major UK-headquartered infrastructure group operating across highways, water, energy, and rail — competes with Askam on larger framework opportunities and represents the upper-scale incumbent benchmark.
Direct peers
- Clancy Docwra: UK family-owned civil engineering contractor focused on water, utilities, and infrastructure for public sector clients — closely comparable business model and water/utilities specialization to Askam.
- VolkerStevin: UK civil engineering contractor (part of VolkerWessels UK) delivering water, marine, energy, and infrastructure projects — overlapping directly with Askam's water, rivers/waterways, and energy segments.
- McPhillips (Wellington): Mid-sized UK civil engineering and highways contractor with strong public sector client base — comparable in scale, tender-led model, and infrastructure delivery focus to Askam.
- JN Bentley: UK civil engineering contractor specializing in water and environmental infrastructure (operating in MMB joint venture with Mott MacDonald) — closely comparable to Askam's founding water-based civil engineering focus.
- Eric Wright Group: North West England-based civil engineering and construction group covering water, highways, and public realm — directly comparable regional contractor to Askam in geography and service mix.
- Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK: Family-influenced UK civil engineering contractor operating across energy, highways, and water infrastructure — comparable business model and sector exposure to Askam, including renewable energy builds.
- Jackson Civil Engineering: UK regional civil engineering contractor with strong water, environmental, and infrastructure portfolio — comparable in scale, sector mix, and public-sector-led project base to Askam.
- J. Murphy & Sons: UK-headquartered civil engineering contractor delivering water, utilities, rail, and infrastructure projects — directly comparable to Askam's water, energy, and highways verticals and similar mid-to-large UK contracting model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Askam Civil Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceAskam Civil Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Askam Civil Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Askam Civil Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Askam Civil Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Askam Civil Engineering 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 Askam Civil Engineering
What does Askam Civil Engineering do?
Askam Civil Engineering is a family-run civil engineering contractor founded in 1986 and based in Lancaster, UK. The company delivers turnkey construction and engineering services across clean and waste water, energy and renewables, industrial and commercial, rivers and waterways, highways and infrastructure, and public realm projects. It also operates an in-house plant hire division and offers design-and-build capability for both public sector authorities and private developers.
Is Askam Civil Engineering a public or private company?
Askam Civil Engineering is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Askam Civil Engineering founded?
Askam Civil Engineering was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Askam Civil Engineering based?
Askam Civil Engineering is headquartered in Lancaster, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Askam Civil Engineering make money?
One revenue line is on record: civil Engineering Projects.
Who are Askam Civil Engineering's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kier Group and Balfour Beatty. Direct peers are Clancy Docwra, VolkerStevin, McPhillips (Wellington), JN Bentley, Eric Wright Group, Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, Jackson Civil Engineering and J. Murphy & Sons.
Does Askam Civil Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Askam Civil Engineering.
What industry is Askam Civil Engineering in?
Askam Civil Engineering's product category is Civil Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAAAD, Design-Build / EPC General Contracting, with a secondary code of BPAHAIAA, Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 237 and its SIC code is 1600.