The Erith Group

What The Erith Group does

The Erith Group is a privately held, employee-owned UK construction enabling contractor founded in 1967 by Tom Darsey in Erith, Kent. The group operates an integrated multi-division model delivering demolition, licensed asbestos removal, land remediation, bulk earthworks and infrastructure, multi-utilities installation, haulage and logistics, and specialist engineering and geotechnical services, with wholly owned subsidiaries covering each capability (Erith Contractors, Erith Haulage, Erith Plant Services, Erith Connect, Erith Business Solutions, Erith Training, and Swanton Consulting/Swantest). Group turnover reached £227 million in FY2023.

The company is ranked among the world's top three demolition contractors and serves enterprise and public-sector clients across nine verticals: commercial, industrial, nuclear, public sector, renewables, retail and leisure, residential/infrastructure, rail solutions, and utilities. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts on NEC, JCT and fixed-price terms, secured via competitive tendering, direct appointments, and long-cycle framework agreements with anchor clients including National Grid (sole supplier, 450 substations), Network Rail (first-ranked), Transport for London, M&S, Co-operative Group, Royal Mail, HS2 (via SCS JV), NRS, Landsec, and the Palace of Westminster. Operational technology includes Hitachi 890/670-class high-reach excavators, drone and point-cloud surveying, GPS telematics with operator-behaviour analytics, and FORS Gold-accredited haulage moving 1.8 million tonnes per year with 99% landfill diversion.

Erith maintains an extensive regulatory accreditation stack (ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001, ARCA, CHAS, FORS Gold, RISQS, Achilles UVDB, SAFEContractor, NFDC, Avetta) and a deep award record including two overall World Demolition Awards (2017, 2019), multiple RoSPA Golds, and consecutive ARCA Platinum Site Audit awards. Leadership transitioned in 2023 with Steven May's appointment as Group CEO under founder-family Chair Steve Darsey. The firm's strategic posture is built on integrated single-source delivery, in-house vertical integration across the enabling value chain, and selective expansion into nuclear decommissioning and energy-transition infrastructure.

Name

The Erith Group

Legal name

Erith Holdings Ltd

Website

https://erith.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Erith Group is a UK-based, employee-owned enabling contractor providing integrated demolition, asbestos removal, remediation, earthworks, haulage, and specialist engineering services to enterprise and public-sector clients across utilities, rail, nuclear, retail, and infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Services / Enabling Works

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio) (IMAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Demolition services
• Asbestos removal
• Site remediation
• Enabling works
• Earthworks construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction and Enabling Services: The Erith Group generates revenue through providing integrated construction enabling services including demolition, asbestos removal, remediation, earthworks, infrastructure, engineering, and haulage. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts, framework agreements with major clients, and direct appointments. The company operates on a fixed price, NEC, and JCT contract basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Erith Group is a multi-disciplined UK enabling contractor providing integrated demolition, asbestos removal, land remediation, earthworks, civil infrastructure, structural engineering, and haulage services. The group operates specialist subsidiaries for multi-utilities (Erith Connect), temporary works design (Swanton Consulting), structural testing (Swantest), haulage, and training, delivering turnkey enabling packages to government, utilities, and commercial property clients.

Product overview

The Erith Group is a family-run, employee-owned construction and enabling contractor founded in 1967, operating as a multi-disciplined specialist provider of integrated construction services. The group comprises eight divisions: Erith Contractors Limited (demolition, asbestos removal, construction solutions), Erith Haulage Limited (haulage and logistics), Erith Plant Services Limited (plant and equipment), Erith Connect Limited (multi-utilities), Erith Business Solutions Limited, Erith Training Limited (apprenticeships and training), and Swanton Consulting Limited (engineering, geotechnical, and structural testing via Swantest). Services range from asbestos removal, demolition, remediation, earthworks, infrastructure, and construction solutions, serving sectors including commercial, industrial, nuclear, public sector, renewables, retail/leisure, residential/infrastructure, rail solutions, and utilities. The company positions itself as an "Enabling Specialist" providing either fully integrated solutions or specific single services tailored to client needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Swanton Consulting: Specialist engineering company providing temporary works design, geotechnical services, basement design, and facade retention engineering. Part of The Erith Group.
• Swantest
• Erith Training

Products and services

• Demolition and Deconstruction Services
• Asbestos Removal and Abatement
• Land Remediation and Reclamation
• Earthworks and Civil Infrastructure
• Erith Haulage - Logistics and Tipper Services
• Erith Connect - Multi Utilities
• Swanton Consulting - Temporary Works and Geotechnical Engineering
• Swantest - Structural Load Testing
• Erith Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% landfill diversion achieved on projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• City of Edinburgh CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022First-ranked status on the Housing Property Asbestos Framework covering approximately 20,000 properties ranging from multi-storey tower blocks to 17th-century historic buildings near the Scottish Parliament.
• Royal Mail GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021One of four asbestos removal contractors for the Royal Mail asbestos removals framework covering the North region with 380+ sites across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of North East and North West England. Includes 365-day 24/7 coverage.
• Network RailflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020First-ranked contractor on the North West and Central Network Rail Framework following successful tender. Covers complex demolition and asbestos removal works delivered across operational rail assets on the West Coast Mainline and nationally.
• Co-operative GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019One of three Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors for the Co-op Food, Funeral, and Depot Asbestos Removal Framework covering Central and Northern regions with over 2,500 stores. Partnered with Lucion Environmental.
• Marks & SpencercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2013Approved Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor within M&S supply chain since 2013. Works with M&S supply chain contractors on projects in both live operational and temporarily closed stores across England, Scotland, and Wales.
• Construction Youth Trust (CYT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting young people from diverse backgrounds to achieve opportunities in the construction industry through targeted support, work experiences, skills development, and coaching. Helps Erith meet social value commitments for public sector clients.
• Skills CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering free pre-employment courses, NVQs, apprenticeships, and CSCS tests to help candidates secure opportunities in the construction sector. Supports Erith's apprenticeship and training commitments.
• Bounce BackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity and social enterprise supporting individuals at risk of offending or with history of substance abuse to change their lives and secure stable employment through training and skills development. Supports Erith's social value commitments.
• 2B EnterprisingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngages local and national companies to financially support schools, helping students learn essential life and entrepreneurial skills. Supports Erith's community engagement initiatives.
• National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the Demolition Trailblazer Apprenticeship in partnership with NFDC - a two-year programme combining hands-on demolition work experience with college training. NFDC is the primary industry trade body for demolition contractors.
• National Grid Property HoldingsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework agreement partner for asbestos removal, demolition, and remediation works at National Grid gas holder sites across the UK. Over 100 former gasholder structures have been demolished, de-sludged, remediated and backfilled under this partnership.
• Wales and West UtilitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework agreement partner for remediation and demolition services at former gas production and storage sites in Wales and West regions.
• SGN PlacecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework agreement partner for gas network remediation and demolition services across Scotland and Southern England.
• Northern Gas NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework agreement partner for gas network remediation and demolition services across Northern England.
• National Gas TransmissionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework agreement partner for transmission infrastructure remediation and demolition services.
• Transport for London (TfL)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework partner (Lot 1 and Lot 2) for hazardous material removal including asbestos, demolition and enabling works within live rail environments. Five-year contract with potential two-year extension covering stations, trackside locations and rail assets.
• NRS (Nuclear Restoration Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework partner for nuclear decommissioning including hazard removal, de-plant, and demolition works at nuclear facilities. Partnership established through extensive experience in the nuclear sector.
• RSRL (Radioactive Sites Restoration Ltd)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework partner for radioactive site restoration and nuclear decommissioning services.
• DounreaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFramework partner for decommissioning works at Dounreay nuclear site in Scotland.
• LandsecflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor property developer client for demolition and enabling works. Timber Square project valued at £35 million with 99.96% waste diverted from landfill. Also engaged for Portland House refurbishment and One Sherwood Street redevelopment.
• SCS Railways (Skanska, Costain, STRABAG Joint Venture)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAppointed to manage import of all primary and recycled aggregates for HS2 Central Area under the SCS JV. Project involves managing materials across multiple tunnel boring machine sites along 26.4km of HS2 route.
• Saint-GobainminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company for recycling specific demolition materials as part of Erith's circular economy initiatives.
• SAS InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company for recycling raised access flooring and other demolition materials to support secondary markets.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BAM Construct UK: BAM Construct is the UK arm of Royal BAM Group, providing construction and enabling services. It is a broader incumbent that competes on integrated enabling contracts rather than dedicated demolition.
• Mace Group: Mace is a global consultancy and construction firm with UK enabling and demolition-adjacent services. It is a broader incumbent that occasionally competes with Erith on major London enabling schemes.
• Wates Group: Wates is a large UK construction and property services group with demolition and enabling capabilities as part of a broader portfolio. It competes for integrated enabling works but is not a demolition specialist.
• Skanska UK: Skanska is a major international contractor with a UK civils and infrastructure business that partners with Erith on HS2 via the SCS JV. It is a broader incumbent that competes for some enabling scopes rather than a pure-play demolition peer.

Emerging players

• Lucion Environmental: Lucion is a UK environmental, asbestos and hazardous materials consultancy. It partners with Erith on the Co-op asbestos framework and competes in adjacent asbestos consulting and surveying services.

Direct peers

• Total Reclaims Demolition: Total Reclaims is a UK demolition contractor specialising in industrial, commercial and nuclear decommissioning projects. Comparable scope to Erith's industrial and remediation divisions.
• McGee Group: McGee is a long-established UK demolition, deconstruction and civil engineering contractor. Its London-heavy complex demolition and cut-and-carve portfolio directly competes with Erith Contractors on premium urban schemes.
• Brown and Mason: Brown and Mason is a UK demolition specialist active in industrial, power-station and high-rise demolition, with significant overlap on nuclear and power-station decommissioning work that Erith also services.
• Keltbray Group: Keltbray is a UK-headquartered specialist contractor providing demolition, civil engineering, rail, and environmental services. It is the closest direct competitor to Erith, with overlapping frameworks at Network Rail, TfL and major developers, and a comparable integrated offering.
• AR Demolition (Allen & Redpath): AR Demolition is a Northern England-based demolition and asbestos removal contractor. It competes with Erith on regional industrial demolition and licensed asbestos removal frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erith-haulage

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 records

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 The Erith Group