What Smith Brothers Contracting does

Smith Brothers (Contracting) Ltd is a UK specialist high-voltage electrical engineering contractor founded in 1999 (Companies House Reg. 03738927) by Richard Smith and John Smith, headquartered in Elland, West Yorkshire with a wholly-owned Irish entity (Smith Brothers Power Engineering Limited, Dublin). The company operates as an Independent Connection Provider (ICP), delivering turnkey HV services from 11kV up to 132kV (with civil design capability extending to 400kV) across design, network connections, switchgear and transformers, cabling and jointing, containerised solutions, testing and commissioning, maintenance and full EPC.

The business serves enterprise and public-sector clients across renewables (wind, solar, anaerobic digestion, waste-to-energy, battery storage), commercial and industrial, water treatment (United Utilities framework provider), offshore oil and gas (North Sea to Qatar), capacity management (EFR/FFR/SFR/DSBR/STOR/SVR) and gas peaking plants. Major counterparties include Light Source Renewable Energy, Siemens Gamesa, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, REG Wind Power, Arlington Energy, Vital Energi, and DNOs such as UK Power Networks, Western Power Distribution, Northern Power Grid, Electricity North West and SSE.

The company is NERS-accredited and holds ISO 9001/14001/45001, Constructionline Silver, CHAS, Achilles UVDB Silver Plus, RoSPA, SSIP and ICO certifications. Revenue is project-based, multi-year and quote-driven, with a stated 78% repeat business rate. The business entered administration on 3 July 2023 (Joint Administrators Edward Christopher Wetton of Gibson Booth and Steven Philip Ross of FRP Advisory appointed) and continues trading under administrator oversight; this is the overriding feature of its current operating posture.

Name

Smith Brothers Contracting

Legal name

Smith Brothers (Contracting) Ltd

Website

https://smithbrothersltd.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UK specialist high-voltage electrical engineering contractor (founded 1999) delivering turnkey HV design, installation, testing and commissioning up to 132kV for renewables developers, DNOs, industrial and public-sector clients; in administration since July 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High Voltage Electrical Engineering Services

NAICS

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (23821)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Overhead & Underground Collection System Construction (MV/HV Lines, Duct Banks) (EUAEADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Overhead Transmission Line EPC (HV/EHV) (EUAEABAA), Cable Fault Location, Testing & Repair (MV/LV) (EUAEACAM)

Keywords

• High voltage electrical contracting
• Power engineering services
• Grid connection services
• Renewable energy infrastructure
• EPC electrical solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

England

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. Project-based Electrical Engineering Services: Smith Brothers generates revenue through providing high voltage electrical engineering services on a project basis. Services include network connections, switchgear and transformers, cabling and jointing, testing and commissioning, design services, turnkey solutions, and EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction). The company achieves a 78% repeat business rate indicating strong client loyalty.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smith Brothers Contracting is a UK-based specialist high voltage (HV) electrical engineering contractor delivering design, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, and turnkey EPC services for electrical infrastructure up to 132kV (and up to 400kV on civil design). The company serves renewable energy developers, utilities, commercial and industrial clients, water treatment operators, and offshore operators with NERS-accredited contestable works and a 78% repeat business rate.

Product overview

Smith Brothers Contracting is a UK-based high voltage electrical engineering contractor offering a comprehensive suite of services for power infrastructure projects. The company provides turnkey solutions spanning the entire project lifecycle—from initial design services through to construction, testing, commissioning, and maintenance. Core service offerings include network connections, switchgear and transformer installation, cabling and jointing, and EPC services. The company operates across multiple sectors including renewables (wind, solar, AD, waste-to-energy), commercial and industrial, water treatment, offshore, capacity management, and gas peaking. They work with voltage levels ranging from 11kV through to 400kV, serving as an Independent Connection Provider (ICP) and NERS-accredited contractor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Network Connections High voltage network connection services connecting power infrastructure to the grid for renewable energy projects, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities.
• Switchgear & Transformers Installation, testing, and commissioning of switchgear and transformer equipment for high voltage power distribution systems up to 132kV.
• Cabling & Jointing High voltage cable installation and jointing services including 33kV, 66kV, and 132kV cable routes for renewable, utility, offshore, and industrial applications.
• Testing & Commissioning Comprehensive testing and commissioning services for switchgear, cabling, and substations to ensure compliance with Distribution Network Operator (DNO) requirements and safe energisation.
• Containerised Solutions Pre-fabricated containerised power solutions for flexible and rapid deployment of electrical infrastructure.
• Design Services Engineering design services for high voltage electrical connections including cable route design, substation civil and structural design, and protection and control systems.
• Turnkey Solutions Complete end-to-end project delivery from design through construction to final connection and commissioning for high voltage power projects.
• EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction) Full Engineering, Procurement and Construction services for major power projects including gas peaking plants, battery storage sites, and renewable energy facilities.
• Maintenance Ongoing maintenance services for high voltage infrastructure to ensure continuous and reliable power supply.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% repeat business rate achieved through safe, on-time, on-budget delivery
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Defib MachinesminorOthers · 8 December 2020Supply and maintenance of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) ensuring one is available on every site across the UK. Includes full service, maintenance package, and training for staff.
• Quinbrook Infrastructure PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership delivering multiple gas peaking plants and clean energy projects. Projects include 20MW Ebbw Vale, 10.3MW Great Harwood, 6MW Burnley, and ongoing projects at Wednesbury, Itchen, Basildon, and Station Road.
• Vital EnergicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on carbon reduction projects including Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust contract aimed at reducing carbon footprint by 14,000 tonnes per year.
• Scriba PRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic relations agency providing SEO services. Acts as a data processor, cannot do anything with personal data unless instructed and will not share personal information.
• Irish Solar Energy AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership supporting solar energy sector in Ireland.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Morrison Energy Services (M Group): Major UK infrastructure contractor within M Group delivering HV transmission, distribution, and substation works for DNOs and developers; broader scale but competes for the same HV connection projects.
• J. Murphy & Sons: UK infrastructure contractor delivering HV cable, substation, and connection projects for utilities and developers; competes with Smith Brothers on similar renewals and DNO tenders but at greater scale.
• Morgan Sindall Infrastructure: UK contractor with significant HV electrical infrastructure capabilities across transmission, substations, and connections; larger and more diversified but overlapping in DNO and renewables project work.
• Enerveo (formerly SSE Enterprise): Larger UK HV infrastructure contractor delivering substation, cable, and connection services for DNOs and developers; broader portfolio but overlaps directly with Smith Brothers' core HV connection offering.
• Balfour Beatty: Large UK-listed infrastructure group delivering transmission, substations, and HV connections as part of a much broader portfolio; competes for the same DNO and renewable-connection tenders but with far greater scale and balance sheet.

Direct peers

• McGowan Group: UK HV and electrical infrastructure contractor delivering substation, cabling, jointing, and grid-connection works for utilities, renewables, and industrial clients; highly comparable specialist HV business.
• Linaker: Specialist HV electrical engineering contractor providing design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of HV infrastructure for utilities, renewables, and industrial clients across the UK.
• Power On Connections: UK NERS-accredited Independent Connection Provider offering HV cable, substation, switchgear, and contestable connection services across all DNO territories — directly comparable as a specialist HV ICP of similar profile.
• Clancy Group: UK multi-utility contractor with significant HV electrical contracting and ICP capabilities for DNO connections, renewables, and industrial customers; comparable in service mix and ICP-led go-to-market.

Emerging players

• AtkinsRéalis: Global engineering and project management firm providing HV substation and grid-connection design services that overlap with Smith Brothers' in-house design capability; competes primarily in the design phase of the same projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smithbrospower
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smith-brothers-contracting-ltd-
• Facebookfacebook.com/smithbrotherspower

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Smith Brothers Contracting