White Horse Contractors

What White Horse Contractors does

White Horse Contractors Limited is a UK specialist construction company founded in 1957 and headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire, operating as a subsidiary of The Slatter Group since the 2019 acquisition. The company delivers soil and water engineering services across sport, landscape, and environment verticals, including natural, hybrid, and artificial sports turf pitch construction, land drainage systems, water engineering (lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, boreholes, irrigation), landscaping and civil engineering, and environmental works (reed beds, habitat creation, land reclamation).

Core technology centers on specialist drainage design and installation, in-house CAD and surveying, a fleet of GPS-guided Mastenbroek 20/15 trenchers with Trimble autosteer, laser grading equipment, mobile irrigation systems for accelerated pitch establishment, and an exclusive UK partnership with GrassMaster Solutions (Tarkett Sports) for hybrid turf systems installed at 800+ pitches worldwide. The Slatter Group affiliation extends the capability set to include artificial turf via S&C Slatter and World Athletics certified track construction via Beynon Sports.

The business model is project-based, one-time contract work won predominantly through competitive tendering. Revenue is generated across six streams: sports turf construction, land drainage, water engineering, environmental works, landscaping and civil engineering, and plant hire. The company serves enterprise clients (professional football and rugby clubs including Chelsea, QPR, Wasps, the FA), education (independent schools and universities), local authorities (Eastleigh, Birmingham), private estates (polo, equestrian), housing developers (S106 / biodiversity net gain obligations), and the agricultural sector. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with principal-contractor sub-contracting on larger projects, supported by consultant referrals, trade body memberships (SAPCA, BALI, STRI, GMA, NAAC, BIGGA), and the Northern Premier League Official Pitch Partnership channel.

Name

White Horse Contractors

Legal name

White Horse Contractors Limited

Website

https://whitehorsecontractors.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

White Horse Contractors is a UK specialist contractor (founded 1957, Newbury) delivering soil and water engineering, sports turf construction, land drainage, water and environmental works for elite sports clubs, schools, local authorities, private estates, and the agricultural sector, operating as part of The Slatter Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Turf Construction and Civil Engineering Services

NAICS

Site Preparation Contractors (238910), Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape, Turf & Groundskeeping Trades (EDAOAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM), Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations (AFAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Sports turf construction
• Land drainage systems
• Water engineering services
• Landscaping civil engineering
• Environmental construction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Newbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sports Turf Construction: Construction of natural, hybrid, and artificial sports pitches for football, rugby, cricket, golf, polo, and equestrian facilities. Project-based contracts ranging from pitch construction to full training ground development.
2. Land Drainage Systems: Drainage design and installation for sports fields, agricultural land, and environmental projects. Includes primary and secondary drainage, SuDS, and attenuation systems.
3. Water Engineering: Lake, pond, reservoir and lagoon construction; waterfalls, weirs, fountains; boreholes and water supplies; pumping and irrigation systems for private clients and public sector.
4. Environmental Works: Wetland habitats, reed beds, habitat creation, land reclamation, and nature reserve construction.
5. Landscaping and Civil Engineering: Hard and soft landscaping, country parks, green infrastructure, cemetery construction, and civil engineering works.
6. Plant Hire: Hire of specialist plant and equipment for sports turf and agricultural projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

White Horse Contractors provides specialist design, construction, and maintenance services for sports surfaces (natural, hybrid via GrassMaster, and artificial), land drainage systems, water engineering (lakes, reservoirs, boreholes, irrigation, pumping), environmental and habitat creation works, landscaping and civil engineering, golf course and equestrian facility construction, cemetery extensions and green infrastructure, primarily serving UK sports clubs, schools, local authorities, housing developers, agricultural operators and private estates.

Product overview

White Horse Contractors is a specialist construction company offering a comprehensive portfolio of soil and water engineering services for sport, landscape, and environmental sectors. The company operates as part of The Slatter Group and provides services across multiple verticals: hybrid sports turf (GrassMaster and PlayMaster systems), natural sports turf, artificial sports turf, water engineering (lakes, reservoirs, wetlands), land drainage systems, landscaping and civil engineering, environmental works, golf courses, equestrian facilities, pipelines and agriculture, training grounds, green open spaces, private client works, cemetery construction, and plant hire. The company has over 60 years of heritage and delivers projects from concept to completion through dedicated in-house teams for design, planning, construction, and maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hybrid Sports Turf Construction Design and construction of hybrid sports pitches using GrassMaster and PlayMaster hybrid turf systems, including installation with specialist machinery, pitch renovation and maintenance for elite and grassroots sports venues.
• Natural Sports Turf Construction Natural turf pitch construction, drainage and irrigation, cultivation and seeding, and pitch renovation and maintenance services.
• Artificial Sports Turf Construction and resurfacing of 3G artificial turf pitches plus Macadam, acrylic and polymeric surfaces for football, rugby and multi-sport applications.
• Water Engineering Construction of lakes, reservoirs, lagoons, swimming ponds, waterfalls, weirs, fountains, reed beds and wetlands, plus boreholes, water supplies, pumping and irrigation systems.
• Land Drainage Systems Installation Drainage design, environmental design, trenching, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and attenuation systems for sports, agricultural and environmental land management.
• Landscaping and Civil Engineering Hard and soft landscaping, dry stone walling, brickwork, car parks, driveways and planting schemes for properties and developments.
• Environmental Works Wetland habitat creation, reed beds, specialist habitat construction, land reclamation and nature reserve development.
• Golf Course Construction Design, construction, buggy paths, walkways, renovation and maintenance services for golf courses.
• Equestrian Facilities Construction Racecourse and gallop construction, polo lawns, cross-country courses, menage and arenas, artificial training surfaces, stables and fencing.
• Pipelines and Agriculture Services Agricultural land drainage, lagoons and reservoirs, moling and subsoiling, ditching and road construction for rural and farming clients.
• Training Ground Construction Specialist construction and renovation of sports training ground facilities including multiple pitches, under-pitch heating, rehabilitation grids and goalkeeping areas.
• Green Open Spaces, Country Parks and Green Infrastructure Construction and development of country parks, public green open spaces and green infrastructure associated with housing developments and public realm projects.
• Private Client Water Engineering Bespoke construction of lakes, ponds, swimming ponds, waterfalls, weirs, fountains, boathouses, bridges, jetties, boreholes and private water supplies for private estates, plus maintenance, renovation and restoration.
• Cemetery Construction and Extension Cemetery construction and extension services including burial plot construction, drainage and associated civil engineering for local-authority cemetery expansion projects.
• Plant Hire Hire of the company's specialist plant and equipment to support sports turf construction, drainage and agricultural projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cutting growing-in timeframe by 50% using specialist mobile irrigation system
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Northern Premier LeagueflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 August 2021Official Pitch Partner selected following lengthy tender process. The Slatter Group will deliver roadshows, webinars, and personalised guidance on pitch design, construction, finance, and maintenance to all 81 Northern Premier League clubs.
• GrassMaster Solutions (Tarkett Sports)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Exclusive partnership for hybrid turf pitch construction in England and Wales. GrassMaster is the inventor and pioneer of hybrid turf technology (since 1989) with over 800 pitches installed worldwide including Wembley Stadium, Twickenham, and 75% of Premier League teams. White Horse Contractors delivers installation using GrassMaster's Gen-S machines and techniques.
• The Slatter GroupcoreOthersParent company that acquired White Horse Contractors in 2019. The Group incorporates White Horse Contractors and S&C Slatter, offering combined natural, hybrid, and artificial sports services plus wider infrastructure offerings.
• S&C SlattercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup partner company providing artificial turf and athletics track construction. Works collaboratively with White Horse on projects including Alexander Stadium redevelopment and Wimborne Town FC relocation.
• Beynon SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership through S&C Slatter for World Athletics certified athletics track construction. Beynon Sports has delivered over 7,500 installations globally and is responsible for 70% of USA's World Athletics Class 1 facilities.
• MastenbroeksupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment supplier providing specialist GPS-guided 20/15 trenchers for sports and agricultural drainage projects. Trimble WM Software integrated for autosteer and data recording capabilities.
• Farol LtdsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment supplier for John Deere tractors. White Horse Contractors purchased 6 new John Deere 6100M tractors from Farol Ltd.
• TGMS (TurfTrax Ground Management Systems)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSports turf consultancy practice providing technical oversight and design input on various projects including Whitgift School, Eastleigh Borough Council, and various elite sports venues.
• The CDS GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign consultancy engaged for Slough Cemetery Extension project, working with White Horse Contractors' in-house expertise to deliver solutions for difficult ground conditions.
• National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC)supportingOthersTrade body membership for agricultural contractors.
• Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA)supportingOthersTrade body membership for sports construction industry.
• British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)supportingOthersTrade body membership for landscape industry professionals.
• Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI)supportingOthersAdvisory body membership for sports turf research and consultancy.
• Grounds Management Association (GMA)supportingOthersTrade body membership for grounds management professionals.
• British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA)supportingOthersTrade body membership for golf greenkeepers.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Salop Sports & Leisure: Mid-sized UK sports facility contractor constructing football, rugby, hockey and multi-use pitches for schools, councils and clubs. Comparable mid-market tender competitor to WHC.
• Limonta Sport (Sport Group): Global hybrid and artificial turf provider competing with GrassMaster/Tarkett in elite football venues. Relevant peer because alternative hybrid systems constrain WHC's pricing power and exclusivity.
• S&C Slatter: Sister company within The Slatter Group; delivers artificial turf pitches, athletics tracks and sports construction projects across the UK. Most directly comparable peer given shared ownership, overlapping clients (e.g. Alexander Stadium, Wimborne Town FC) and complementary natural/artificial turf offerings.
• TigerTurf UK: UK subsidiary of a global artificial turf manufacturer with strong presence in hockey, football, rugby and multi-use games areas. Competes head-to-head with WHC and S&C Slatter in schools, councils and clubs.
• Charles Lawrence Surfaces: UK installer of macadam, polymeric, artificial and natural sports surfaces for athletics tracks, tennis, MUGAs and pitches. Overlaps with WHC's non-turf civil/surface offerings, especially via Slatter Group's Beynon athletics partnership.
• McArdle Sport: UK sports pitch construction contractor offering natural and artificial turf, athletics tracks and civil engineering. Comparable scale and customer base to WHC, bidding for similar local authority and club tenders.
• SIS Pitches: UK-based installer of natural, hybrid and artificial sports surfaces with in-house SISTurf hybrid system. Directly competes with WHC/GrassMaster in football, rugby and hockey pitch construction for clubs, schools and local authorities.

Emerging players

• Replay Sports Maintenance: UK sports surface maintenance, renovation and minor construction specialist serving clubs and schools. Adjacent peer addressing the recurring-revenue end of WHC's pitch lifecycle.

Broad incumbents

• FieldTurf: Large North American artificial and hybrid turf brand serving stadia, schools and municipalities worldwide. Competes with WHC's artificial turf offering and partner S&C Slatter at the higher end of the UK market.
• SGL (Sport Group Limited): Global full-service pitch design, build, install and maintenance group with strong European presence in hybrid, natural and artificial turf. Competes with WHC in cross-border elite club opportunities and is an indirect ceiling on the UK hybrid market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whitehorsecontr
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/White-Horse-Contractors-Ltd/220978414757249?ref=settings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-horse-contractors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 White Horse Contractors