DAB Group

What DAB Group does

DAB Group is a privately held, family-run construction services group headquartered at Bungeons Farm, Ipswich, United Kingdom, operating primarily across East Anglia (Suffolk and Norfolk). The group is structured as five legally distinct but centrally managed businesses: DAB Construction (E.A) Ltd for building and infrastructure construction, DAB Civil Engineering Ltd for residential and commercial groundworks, DAB Scaffolding and Roofing Ltd for scaffolding systems and roofing services, Ruby Homes (East Anglia) for in-house property development (land identification, planning, and new-build homes), and Anglia Civils. The group was founded in 2006/2008 by David Bates, who continues as Managing Director.

DAB's service offering spans the full lifecycle of a built-asset project — sewer connections, highways, foundations, drainage, reinforced concrete, building construction, scaffolding erection/dismantling, roof tiling, slating, flat roofing, leadworks, and end-to-end property development. Service delivery is supported by a sizeable owned plant fleet (Sany SY305C, Doosan DX225LC and DX300LC, Hyundai HX220L and HX130, Komatsu PC360LC, Takeuchi TB370 and TB2150R excavators, Thwaites 6-tonne dumpers) and a qualified in-house workforce. Customers include both commercial enterprise clients (John Youngs, ISG, Lovells, Heritage Developments, Generator Group, SEH French) and domestic end-users.

The business model is project-based and quote-driven: DAB engages clients via direct phone and email contact, tenders against project specifications, and prices each contract individually (no public price list). Revenue is generated through one-time construction services contracts of varying size — from one-off bespoke residential builds through medium-sized housing schemes (e.g., 62 units at Meddler's Stud) to large groundworks packages (e.g., first phase of a 335-unit development at Gunvil Hall Farm). Geographic reach is concentrated within East Anglia, with no disclosed plans for international or national expansion; the go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven rather than digital or channel-led.

Name

DAB Group

Legal name

DAB Group Ltd

Website

https://dabgroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DAB Group is a family-run UK construction services group headquartered in Ipswich, delivering civil engineering, construction, scaffolding, roofing, and property development services across East Anglia to both commercial developers and domestic clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: Project-based revenue from civil engineering, construction, scaffolding and roofing, and property development services. Revenue generated through direct client contracts for projects of varying sizes from one-off bespoke properties to large residential schemes and major commercial projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

DAB Group is a family-run construction group delivering building, civil engineering, scaffolding, roofing, and property development services across East Anglia. Operating through four divisions — DAB Construction (E.A) Ltd, DAB Civil Engineering Ltd, DAB Scaffolding and Roofing Ltd, and Ruby Homes (East Anglia) — the group handles projects from groundworks and foundations through to new-build homes for both commercial developers and domestic customers.

Product overview

DAB Group is a construction industry holding company comprising four operating divisions under single management: DAB Construction (E.A) Ltd for building and infrastructure solutions, DAB Civil Engineering Ltd for groundworks and civil engineering services, DAB Scaffolding and Roofing Ltd for scaffolding and roofing services, and Ruby Homes (East Anglia) for property development. The group provides end-to-end services for projects of all sizes, from civil engineering and construction through to scaffolding, roofing, and residential property development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAB Construction (E.A) Ltd Delivers building and infrastructure solutions to landowners and property developers, offering services from planning through to completion including new builds and refurbishments.
• DAB Civil Engineering Ltd Specialises in residential and commercial groundworks and civil engineering, providing sewer connections, highways works, foundations, drainage, and reinforced concrete structures.
• DAB Scaffolding and Roofing Ltd Provides scaffold systems and roofing services for housing developments, commercial properties, and industrial units, including delivery, erection, dismantling, roof tiling, slating, flat roofing, and leadworks.
• Ruby Homes (East Anglia) Property development arm offering land identification and acquisition, planning permission applications, land sales, and new build homes construction.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NALEP)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership supported DAB Civil Engineering with the procurement of construction equipment including excavators and machinery. This partnership enables continued investment in latest machinery and safety technology for construction sites.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Willmott Dixon: Major UK privately owned construction contractor focused on public sector, education, residential and commercial projects. Comparable as a mid-to-large UK general contractor competing for similar framework and developer work.
• Wates Group: One of the UK's largest privately held construction, property services and development groups. Comparable to DAB in mixed residential/commercial/infrastructure delivery and private family-controlled ownership, but operates at substantially larger scale.
• Galliford Try: UK-listed construction group combining building, infrastructure and a housebuilding business (Vistry). Comparable to DAB on the integrated construction-plus-development model and UK housebuilding exposure.
• Morgan Sindall Group plc: UK-listed construction and regeneration group with large-scale construction, infrastructure and property development divisions. Highly comparable to DAB on multi-trade delivery and groundworks-led residential and commercial schemes, though operating at materially larger national scale.
• Kier Group plc: UK infrastructure, construction and property development group with significant residential groundworks and civil engineering activity. Overlaps with DAB on civils, residential groundwork packages and developer relationships.

Regional players

• R G Carter: East Anglia-headquartered construction group with civil engineering, building and joinery divisions. Geographically the most directly comparable competitor to DAB, serving Norfolk and Suffolk commercial and residential clients from a similar family-run base.
• Chevin Homes: Mid-tier regional developer and contractor active across East Anglia and the South East, delivering residential schemes using in-house groundworks and construction trades. Direct smaller-scale analogue to DAB's Ruby Homes development arm.
• Barnes Construction: East of England-focused construction and interiors contractor delivering commercial, education and residential projects. Direct geographic competitor to DAB within East Anglia, with similar regional contractor profile.

Direct peers

• McLaren Construction Group: Privately held UK contractor delivering residential, commercial, education and healthcare builds with in-house civil engineering capability. Directly comparable multi-trade operating model to DAB, though at larger national scale.
• Bowmer + Kirkland: Privately held UK construction contractor delivering commercial, industrial, leisure and education projects across the regions. Closely comparable business model to DAB — family-influenced, mid-tier, regionally focused general contractor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 DAB Group