Van Elle
Van Elle is the UK's largest geotechnical and ground engineering contractor, delivering piling, ground investigation, modular foundations, and rail engineering services to housebuilders, infrastructure, and energy clients via proprietary Smartdeck, Smartfoot, Smartbase, and ScrewFast systems; acquired by STRABAG UK in June 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersPinxton, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Van Elle does
Van Elle Holdings Limited is the UK's largest and most diverse geotechnical and ground engineering contractor, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. The company delivers piling, ground investigation, pile testing, geotechnical engineering, slope stabilisation, ground improvement, retaining structures, rail engineering, and modular foundation systems across three core verticals: Residential (integrated foundations for national and regional housebuilders), Infrastructure (rail, highways, energy, utilities), and Construction (commercial, industrial, residential). It claims over 25 specialist ground engineering techniques and operates five retained sub-brands (Screwfast, Strata, Rock and Alluvium, Albion Drilling Group, Van Elle Training), with vertically integrated in-house precast manufacturing, steel fabrication, and a workforce training academy.
The company monetises through project-based, quote-based B2B enterprise contracts secured via direct tendering and frameworks with major housebuilders, infrastructure contractors, and energy clients. Key proprietary product lines include the Smartdeck, Smartfoot, and Smartbase modular precast foundations, and ScrewFast helical and GRIP piles for restricted-access piling. Revenue for H1 FY2026 (six months ended 31 October 2025) was £73.4 million, up 16% year-on-year, with an order book of £44.9 million (+8% YoY) and an expected £40 million annual revenue contribution from energy sector frameworks from FY2028. Operating margins are thin (2.8% in H1 FY2026), reflecting the project-contract nature of the business.
In June 2026, Van Elle was acquired by STRABAG UK for £58.8 million at 52.3 pence per share (a 58.5% premium) via scheme of arrangement, delisted from AIM, and re-registered as a private limited entity. Prior to the acquisition, Van Elle had disposed of its Canadian operations in December 2025 and completed the acquisition of Albion Drilling Group in October 2024. Post-acquisition, the senior leadership was restructured under a joint managing director model while CFO Graeme Campbell remained in place.
Van Elle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Van Elle
- Legal name
- Van Elle Holdings Limited
- Website
- https://van-elle.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Van Elle is the UK's largest geotechnical and ground engineering contractor, delivering piling, ground investigation, modular foundations, and rail engineering services to housebuilders, infrastructure, and energy clients via proprietary Smartdeck, Smartfoot, Smartbase, and ScrewFast systems; acquired by STRABAG UK in June 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Van Elle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geotechnical and Ground Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), Roadway Structures & Geotechnical Asset Maintenance (Retaining Walls, Slopes, Rockfall) (TLAJAAAI)
Keywords
Where Van Elle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pinxton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Van Elle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Geotechnical Engineering Services: Project-based revenue from ground engineering services including piling, ground investigation, slope stabilisation, and geotechnical engineering for construction, residential, and infrastructure projects.
- Rail Engineering Services: Specialist rail sector services including overhead line electrification, lineside civils, structures, and track bed stabilisation
- Modular Foundation Systems: Sale and installation of proprietary modular foundation systems (Smartdeck, Smartfoot, Smartbase, ScrewFast Steel Modular Grillages)
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Van Elle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Van Elle is the UK's largest and most diverse geotechnical and ground engineering contractor, offering end-to-end capabilities with over 25 specialist ground engineering techniques. The company provides piling, ground investigation, pile testing, geotechnical engineering, slope stabilisation, ground improvement, retaining structures, rail engineering, and proprietary modular foundation systems (Smartdeck, Smartfoot, Smartbase, ScrewFast, GRIP) to residential, infrastructure, and construction clients.
Product overview
Van Elle is the UK's largest and most diverse geotechnical and ground engineering contractor, operating as a unified service organisation offering end-to-end capabilities with over 25 specialist ground engineering techniques. The company operates across three core markets: Residential (integrated piling and foundation systems for housebuilders and multi-storey residential), Infrastructure (specialist ground engineering to rail, highways, coastal, flooding, energy and utility sectors), and Construction (full range of piling and ground improvement services to commercial, industrial and residential sectors). The portfolio includes ground investigation, pile testing, geotechnical engineering, slope stabilisation, ground improvement, retaining structures, open site piling, restricted access piling, rail engineering, and modular foundation systems. Key branded products include ScrewFast helical and GRIP piles, the Smartdeck/Smartfoot/Smartbase modular foundation range, and subsidiary brands Rock and Alluvium and Albion Drilling Group. The company provides in-house logistical support through precast manufacturing and steel fabrication, and offers construction training through Van Elle Training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Screwfast: Specialist helical and GRIP pile systems and modular foundation solutions
- Strata
- Van Elle Training
- Rock and Alluvium
- Albion Drilling Group
Products and services
- Ground Investigation Services
- Pile Testing Services
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Slope Stabilisation
- Ground Improvement
- Retaining Structures
- Open Site Piling
- Restricted Access and Specialist Piling
- Rail Engineering
- Modular Foundation Systems
- In-house Logistical Support
- Construction Training
Quantifiable outcome
- 16% revenue increase to £73.4 million in H1 FY2026
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Van Elle
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Van Elle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Van Elle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- STRABAG UKcoreSTRABAG UK acquired Van Elle for £58.8 million in June 2026, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. Van Elle was re-registered as a private limited entity following the acquisition. The deal represents STRABAG's strategy to strengthen its position as a vertically integrated market leader by adding Van Elle's established UK ground engineering platform to its existing operations.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Van Elle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Van Elle social profiles
Digital presenceVan Elle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Van Elle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Van Elle subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Van Elle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Van Elle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Van Elle
What does Van Elle do?
Van Elle is the UK's largest and most diverse geotechnical and ground engineering contractor, offering end-to-end capabilities with over 25 specialist ground engineering techniques. The company provides piling, ground investigation, pile testing, geotechnical engineering, slope stabilisation, ground improvement, retaining structures, rail engineering, and proprietary modular foundation systems (Smartdeck, Smartfoot, Smartbase, ScrewFast, GRIP) to residential, infrastructure, and construction clients.
Is Van Elle a public or private company?
Van Elle is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Van Elle founded?
Van Elle was founded in 1984. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Van Elle based?
Van Elle is headquartered in Pinxton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Van Elle make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Geotechnical Engineering Services are the primary driver. The others are rail Engineering Services and modular Foundation Systems.
Does Van Elle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Van Elle.
What industry is Van Elle in?
Van Elle's product category is Geotechnical and Ground Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAOAK, Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review), with a secondary code of BPAHAIAB, Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8711.