Soils

What Soils does

Soils Limited is a UK-based geotechnical and environmental consultancy founded in 1982 in Surrey by Nick Lambert and Rob Higginson, now headquartered in Winchester with additional offices in London, Cornwall and a yard in Cobham. The firm operates as a private limited company with approximately 40 engineers, geologists, environmental scientists and geochemists, including chartered professionals (CEng, CSci, CEnv), and runs an in-house drilling capability with a fleet of tracked window samplers for site investigation work. It delivers three integrated service lines—Geotechnical Consultancy, Environmental Consultancy, and Site Investigations & Survey—covering everything from desk studies and basement impact assessments through to contaminated land planning, remediation validation, flood risk assessments and SuDS design.

The business serves a horizontal mix of construction developers, government and highways clients, architecture and engineering firms, and maritime operators across the South of England and Europe, with named engagements including Premier Marinas (Noss-on-Dart, ongoing since 2017), Greystar and EQUANS (Grand Union Canal 407-unit BTR), Essex Highways and Ringway Jacobs (Harlow infrastructure), WSP and Corinthian (North Quay, Hayle), the Henry Moore Foundation, and the RNLI. A proprietary database of more than 20,000 historical projects underpins geotechnical desk studies, and the firm leverages repeat business and recommendations alongside a vetted subcontractor network subject to annual HSE audits.

Commercial model is professional services, project-based, with quote-driven engagements initiated via email ([email protected]). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; pricing is bespoke per project. GTM motion is enterprise field sales targeting construction developers, local authorities, architecture firms and infrastructure projects in the South of England, with four regional offices supporting direct client engagement and no reseller or partner distribution model. Ownership remains with the original founders, with no external institutional investment or parent company identified.

Name

Soils

Legal name

Soils Limited

Website

https://soilslimited.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Soils Limited is a UK-based geotechnical and environmental consultancy founded in 1982, employing around 40 chartered engineers and scientists across Winchester, London, Cornwall and Cobham to deliver integrated ground investigation, contaminated land, and drainage services to construction developers, public sector clients, and infrastructure operators in the South of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical and Environmental Consulting

NAICS

Support Activities for Mining (2131), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG), Site Remediation & Contaminated Soil Handling (IMAFAKAG), Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing) (EUAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Geotechnical consulting
• Environmental consulting
• Site investigations
• Contaminated land assessment
• Ground engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tadworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical Consultancy Services: Project-based consultancy services including geotechnical investigation reports, ground movement assessments, basement impact assessments, and foundation recommendations.
2. Environmental Consultancy Services: Phase 1 and Phase 2 site investigations, contaminated land assessment, flood risk assessments, waste management, and SuDS design reports.
3. Site Investigation Services: Intrusive site investigations including drilling, sampling, in-situ testing, groundwater monitoring, and utility mapping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Soils Limited is a Geotechnical and Environmental Consultancy providing integrated ground condition analysis services. The firm delivers three core service lines: Geotechnical Consultancy (evaluation of how structures interact with the ground), Environmental Consultancy (brownfield development, contaminated land and regulatory navigation), and Site Investigations & Survey (intrusive drilling, sampling, in-situ testing and utility mapping using in-house tracked window samplers). Services span from initial desk studies through to remediation validation for construction developers, local authorities, architects and infrastructure clients.

Product overview

Soils Limited is a Geotechnical and Environmental Consultancy offering an integrated portfolio of services. The core offerings are three interconnected service lines: Geotechnical Consultancy, Environmental Consultancy, and Site Investigations & Survey. These services work together to provide comprehensive ground condition analysis from initial desk studies through to detailed site investigations and specialist reporting. Geotechnical Consultancy encompasses reporting, desk studies, basement impact assessments, and ground movement assessments. Environmental Consultancy covers Phase 1 and Phase 2 investigations, waste management, flood risk assessments, contaminated land planning, and SuDS. Site Investigations & Survey provides the field delivery capability including utility mapping, geotechnical and geo-environmental investigations, and groundwater and infiltration testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geotechnical Consultancy Evaluation, understanding and design of how structures interact with the ground beneath them, covering all stages of the development process. Includes geotechnical desk studies using the firm's 20,000+ project database, geotechnical reporting (factual data reports, GIRs, GDRs, interpretive reports, retaining wall design, slope stability), basement impact assessments and ground movement assessments. Target customers are construction developers, architects, civil engineers and infrastructure clients.
• Environmental Consultancy Qualified Engineers and Scientists providing expertise in brownfield development, contaminated land and navigating the regulatory process. Includes Phase 1 Preliminary Investigation Reports (desk studies), Phase 2 Site Investigations and Reporting, Waste Management Services, Flood Risk Assessments (Level 1 and Level 2), Contaminated Land Planning and Brownfield Development support, and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) design reports. Target customers are construction developers, planning applicants and infrastructure clients.
• Site Investigations & Survey Site investigation solutions delivered by an in-house team of Drillers, Technicians and Surveyors using a fleet of tracked window samplers. Includes Utility Mapping & Surveys, Geotechnical Investigations (in-situ testing, dynamic/window sampling, cable percussive drilling, rotary boreholes, CBR testing, dynamic cone penetrometers, overwater drilling), Geo-environmental Investigations (groundwater and ground gas installations, water sampling, laboratory scheduling) and Groundwater & Infiltration Testing (percolation, infiltration and BRE365 trial pit soakaway tests). Target customers are construction developers, infrastructure clients and marine/maritime clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prepares hundreds of Phase 1 Preliminary Investigation Reports annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Premier MarinascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Long-term strategic relationship since 2017 for Noss-on-Dart Marina regeneration project. Providing comprehensive site investigation, geotechnical and geo-environmental consultancy including Materials Management Plans, Discovery Strategies, Soil Stabilisation, CPTs, Plate Load Testing, and overwater boreholes. Multi-phase development support spanning several years.
• WSPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy partnership on North Quay landmark transformative development project in Hayle, Cornwall. Soils Limited providing site investigation and ground condition assessment services.
• CorinthianmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partnership on North Quay project, working alongside WSP to develop ground investigation understanding for this major Cornwall development.
• GreystarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient partnership for Grand Union Canal 407-unit build-to-rent mixed-use redevelopment. Soils Limited provided comprehensive site investigation and contaminated land consultancy ahead of ambitious redevelopment.
• EQUANSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient partnership for site investigation works and contaminated land consultancy including Remediation Method Statements (RMS) and Ground Gas Risk Assessments (GGRAs) for Grand Union Canal industrial site redevelopment.
• Essex HighwaysmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment client partnership for complex multi-stage site investigation using intrusive and geophysical techniques on Harlow infrastructure project. Delivered on tight schedule with day and night shifts.
• Ringway JacobsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery partnership with Essex Highways for Harlow infrastructure project involving complex site investigation and utility mapping.
• Henry Moore FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable arts organization partnership for £2.5m learning hub development. Provided site investigation, geotechnical reporting and contamination assessment for extension of Sheep Field Barn Gallery.
• RNLIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable maritime organization partnership for Penlee lifeboat station project. Provided ground condition information and foundation scheme for construction of new lifeboat station dealing with busy shipping port environment.
• Frank Reynolds ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partnership on Grand Union Canal project involving multiple stakeholders and entities.
• DSDHAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural design partner for Henry Moore Foundation learning hub project including timber extension design.
• Webb YatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering partner for Henry Moore Foundation learning hub project.
• Symons ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for RNLI Penlee lifeboat station project providing foundation scheme appropriate to site settings.
• MarbasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for RNLI Penlee lifeboat station construction project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hydrock: UK-based engineering, environmental, and geotechnical consultancy with overlapping services in site investigation, contaminated land, and SuDS — now part of Stantec but historically a direct mid-market peer.
• Terra Data: UK geotechnical and environmental consultancy providing site investigation, ground engineering, and contaminated land services to construction and development clients — comparable in size and service mix.
• Ian Farmer Associates: Mid-sized UK geotechnical engineering consultancy with comparable headcount, services (site investigation, geotechnical design, contaminated land), and regional operating model.
• Celtest: UK geotechnical testing and site investigation firm with in-house drilling and laboratory testing capability, serving construction and infrastructure clients comparable to Soils Limited's installer-and-consultant model.
• Structural Soils: UK geotechnical and environmental consultancy with in-house drilling rigs and a similar integrated offering of site investigation, geotechnical, and geo-environmental services for construction and infrastructure clients.
• Soil Engineering: UK-based geotechnical and geo-environmental consultancy offering site investigation, contaminated land assessment, and geotechnical reporting — directly comparable service mix, client base, and project scale to Soils Limited.

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Global design, engineering, and environmental consultancy with UK geotechnical and contaminated land capabilities that overlap with Soils Limited's service portfolio, particularly on large brownfield redevelopments.
• WSP: Global engineering consultancy with a large UK geotechnical and environmental practice; a relevant incumbent competitor and also a current Soils Limited project partner (North Quay, Hayle).
• RSK Group: Large UK-based environmental and geotechnical services group providing site investigation, contaminated land, and geo-environmental consulting — a relevant incumbent that competes with Soils Limited on mid-market and enterprise tenders.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with substantial UK geotechnical, environmental, and site investigation practices competing for the same enterprise and public-sector clients as Soils Limited.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soils-ltd
• Xx.com/soilslimited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Soils