What Franki Foundations UK does

Franki Foundations UK Limited is a specialist piling and deep foundation contractor headquartered in London (47-49 Durham St, SE11 5JA) with a secondary office in Crawley. The company delivers complete foundation solutions to main contractors, property developers, and infrastructure clients across England, operating as a subcontractor on commercial, residential, rail, airport, stadium, and marine projects. It traces its heritage to the 1909 patent of the Franki pile by Edgard Frankignoul and has operated in the UK for over 25 years; the UK entity is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Belgium-based BESIX Group, with Martello Piling (acquired 2017) and Able Piling as additional UK sub-brands.

The technical core comprises multiple piling techniques — CFA (Continuous Flight Auger), rotary bored piling, SFA, driven piles, and restricted-access methods — supported by a fleet of 20+ specialist rigs including the in-house designed Martello MP4000 series (capable of 1050mm diameter piles to 40m depth in headrooms as low as 3.1m), Soilmec, Casagrande, Klemm, and Liebherr equipment. Proprietary differentiators include the Martello Technique for low-headroom/restricted-access piling, the bespoke MP4000-series rigs, and the Rapid Deck/Rapid Beam piled raft system designed using finite element analysis. Foundation design and engineering services are bundled into design-and-build contracts alongside installation.

The business model is project-based professional services revenue, earned through competitive tendering and direct appointments. Pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting main contractors (e.g., ISG, Sir Robert McAlpine, St William/Berkeley Group, O'Keefe, Neilcott), developers (Elysian Residences), and government infrastructure clients (Network Rail, HS2). The Able Piling division also serves private residential customers directly for subsidence remediation and underpinning. Marketing is predominantly reputational and tender-driven, supported by ISO 9001/14001/45001, Constructionline Gold, CHAS, Achilles, RISQS, and Federation of Piling Specialists accreditation.

Name

Franki Foundations UK

Legal name

Franki Foundations UK Limited

Website

https://frankifoundations.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Franki Foundations UK is a specialist piling and deep foundation subcontractor serving main contractors, developers, and infrastructure clients across England via CFA, rotary bored, and the proprietary Martello restricted-access technique. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BESIX Group alongside Martello and Able Piling sub-brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Piling and Deep Foundation Contracting

NAICS

Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (2381), Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (23811), Site Preparation Contractors (23891)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Piling & Deep Foundations (Driven, Bored, CFA, Micropiles) (IMAFAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundation Remediation & Underpinning (Jack Piles, Resin Injection, Re-leveling) (IMAFAOAL), Earth Retention & Excavation Support (Sheet/Soldier Piles, Diaphragm Walls, Bracing) (IMAFAOAD)

Keywords

• Piling contractors
• Deep foundation solutions
• Ground engineering services
• Restricted access piling
• Underpinning and ground improvement

Headquarters

HQ city

Dartford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Piling and Foundation Installation Services: Project-based professional services revenue generated through competitive tendering for specialist piling and deep foundation installation on construction projects. Revenue is earned through direct contracts with main contractors, property developers, and infrastructure clients for both residential and commercial developments.
2. Foundation Design and Engineering Services: Bespoke foundation design services provided as part of design-and-build contracts, including value engineering and technical consultation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Franki Foundations UK is a specialist piling and deep foundation contractor delivering complete foundation solutions comprising Piles, Retaining Walls, Foundation Packages, Underpinning, and Ground Improvement. Services are delivered through multiple techniques including CFA, SFA, rotary bored, driven piles, and the proprietary Martello restricted-access/low headroom technique, supported by a fleet of 20+ specialist rigs and integrated design-and-build capability.

Product overview

Franki Foundations UK operates as a deep foundation specialist offering a unified piling services portfolio under the Franki Foundations brand, supplemented by the Able Piling sub-brand for restricted access mini piling and the Martello Piling technique for low headroom operations. Core services encompass Piles, Retaining Walls, Foundation Packages, Underpinning, and Ground Improvement, delivered through techniques including CFA (Continuous Flight Auger), SFA (Section Flight Auger), rotary bored, driven piles, and the proprietary Martello technique. The company's Rapid Deck System provides a modular piled raft solution. Services are supported by an extensive proprietary rig fleet including Martello MP4000 series, Soilmec, Casagrande, and Liebherr equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Martello Piling: Specialist piling technique developed in-house, offering large diameter (restricted-access and low headroom) piling solutions. Part of Franki Foundations UK Group since 2017 acquisition.
• Able Piling
• Rapid Deck

Products and services

• Piles (Piling Services) Specialist piling installation services for construction projects using techniques including CFA (Continuous Flight Auger), rotary bored piling, driven piles, and the proprietary Martello Technique. Serves main contractors, developers, and infrastructure clients requiring deep foundations for buildings, infrastructure, and marine works.
• Retaining Walls Specialist retaining wall installation services, including secant pile walls (e.g., 1 Broadgate project delivered 16 weeks ahead of programme), for construction projects requiring earth retention and structural support.
• Foundation Packages Complete foundation packages combining design and installation of deep foundations for construction projects, including value engineering, technical consultation, and design-and-build contracts for residential, commercial, and infrastructure developments.
• Underpinning Specialist underpinning services including traditional underpinning, cantilever piled raft underpinning, and stem base underpinning for building subsidence remediation and extension foundations, delivered with ASUC 10-year insurance-backed guarantees.
• Ground Improvement Ground improvement services supporting construction projects by enhancing soil conditions and bearing capacity, delivered as part of integrated foundation solutions for buildings, infrastructure, and environmental projects.
• Able Piling (Mini Piling Service) Specialist mini piling and underpinning sub-brand offering CFA, Omega (Spoil Free) displacement piles, SFA, steel cased driven, screw piles, and restricted access piling solutions for private residential works, subsidence remediation, and extensions, including the modular Rapid Deck/Rapid Beam piled raft system.
• Martello Piling Technique Proprietary restricted-access and low headroom piling technique using bespoke MP4000 series rigs capable of installing large diameter piles (up to 1050mm) to depths of 40m in headroom as low as 3.1m, ideal for working beside roads, railways, under bridges, and in sensitive environments.
• Rapid Deck System (Piled Raft Foundation) Modular piled raft foundation system combining SFA or mini piles with a lightweight reinforced concrete raft slab designed using finite element analysis for economic thickness and steel requirements, enabling rapid construction with reduced excavation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed Kew Riverside 324-pile project on schedule
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Martello PilingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Franki Foundations UK acquired Martello Piling in 2017. Martello had entered the UK market in 2002 offering the revolutionary Martello Technique for restricted access piling. The acquisition brought proprietary rig technology and specialist expertise into the Franki Foundations UK group.
• Able PilingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAble Piling operates as a division of Franki Foundations UK, providing specialist mini piling and underpinning services. With over 20 years experience, Able offers CFA, SFA, steel cased driven, screw piles, and restricted access piling solutions for private works and residential projects.
• CPC Project ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFranki Foundations contracted by CPC Project Services for Kew Riverside development, acting as Principal Contractor for piling works before handing over to main contractor.
• Sir Robert McAlpinemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSir Robert McAlpine engaged Franki Foundations for restricted access piling foundation solutions on major projects including Centenary Way Birmingham and 1 Broadgate.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Keller Group: Global geotechnical solutions group with significant UK piling and ground-improvement operations. A broader incumbent with overlapping CFA, rotary bored, and ground-improvement offerings but a wider portfolio than Franki's pure-play piling focus.
• SOCOTEC UK: Major testing, inspection, and geotechnical services group with adjacent ground-engineering capability. Provides ground investigation and pile-testing services (e.g., O-cell testing on Botley Road Bridge) and competes at the edge of Franki's design-and-build offerings.

Direct peers

• Cementation Skanska: Skanska's UK piling subsidiary delivering large-diameter bored, CFA, and contiguous/secant pile walls. Competes directly with Franki on high-rise foundations, rail, and infrastructure schemes.
• Roger Bullivant: UK piling specialist (part of Van Elle) offering restricted-access, mini, and rotary piling. Closely comparable to Franki's Able Piling sub-brand on housing, subsidence, and residential extension works.
• Central Piling: Independent UK piling contractor delivering CFA, rotary bored, and driven pile solutions across commercial and residential sectors. Direct mid-market competitor for Franki's general piling packages.
• Van Elle: UK-listed specialist ground engineering contractor offering piling, foundations, and ground improvement. Directly competes for housing, commercial, and infrastructure piling packages and overlaps in restricted-access mini piling.
• Aarsleff Ground Engineering: UK subsidiary of Danish Aarsleff Group, focused on driven and precast concrete piling plus CFA. Competes with Franki on commercial and infrastructure tenders, particularly where driven precast piles are specified.
• Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering: Major UK piling and ground engineering contractor with deep rail and infrastructure exposure. Overlaps Franki on Network Rail, HS2-adjacent, and major commercial tenders; comparable fleet of rotary and CFA rigs.
• Bachy Soletanche: Largest specialist piling and ground engineering contractor in the UK, offering CFA, rotary bored, and restricted-access piling. Direct competitor for the same main-contractor tenders across infrastructure, commercial, and residential projects.
• Murphy Geotechnical: Geotechnical division of J. Murphy & Sons delivering piling and ground engineering for rail, utilities, and infrastructure projects. Direct competitor on Network Rail, HS2-supply-chain, and utility-adjacent piling schemes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Franki Foundations UK