Big Red

What Big Red does

Big Red (operating under the corporate umbrella Big Red Industries Group / BR2.0 Group) is a UK-based principal contractor and construction management firm founded in 2016 by Mike Lomas, headquartered in Huddersfield with additional regional offices in Manchester and Birmingham and project activity extending into the North East. The company delivers multimillion-pound construction projects across multiple sectors — hygienic manufacturing facilities for food, pharmaceutical, health, and petrochemical industries; purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA); residential apartment developments; and community projects — using JCT Design and Build and JCT Construction Management contract methods, with the firm taking direct responsibility for key trade packages under construction management arrangements.

The company's core technical offering is defined by its contract delivery model and specialist sector knowledge rather than by proprietary software. Notable delivered or pipeline projects include Renaissance Works (138 student apartments delivered through refurbishment of a 1920s co-operative building in Huddersfield), Dundas Works (50 student apartments), Lomax, Manchester (41 residential apartments), The Beacon Centre Manchester (community hub), and a 300,000 sq. ft hygienic manufacturing facility in the North East. In June 2024, Big Red announced its evolution to "BR2.0," repositioning the group as an end-to-end property solutions platform spanning "Develop, Deliver, Maintain" alongside subsidiaries Xpercity and Inspired. The firm's HSEQC (Health, Safety, Environment, Quality, Compliance) function, led by a named SHEQC Manager, is positioned as a differentiator with formal mental-health partnerships including Mates in Mind and the Lighthouse Charity.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services contracts (Principal Contractor and Main Contractor roles) plus revenue participation as developer/contractor on joint venture property developments such as Lomax, Manchester. Pricing is bespoke and quote-driven with no publicly disclosed tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led (direct tendering) supplemented by event-driven activity across MIPIM, CHEMUK, and PPMA trade shows. The firm employs 35+ staff across site operations and office functions and counts enterprise clients including INEOS Hygienics, Reckitt, Greencore, McCain, AB Mauri, Crown Paints, Revolution Bars Group, and Magnet alongside community-sector clients such as Netherley Youth and Community Initiative and The Beacon Centre Manchester.

Name

Big Red

Legal name

Big Red Industries Group

Website

https://wearebigred.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Red is a UK-based principal contractor delivering multimillion-pound construction, development, and asset maintenance projects across food, pharmaceutical, student accommodation, residential, and community sectors, operating from Huddersfield, Manchester, and Birmingham as part of the BR2.0 Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Services

NAICS

Industrial Building Construction (23621), Construction of Buildings (236), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Construction (23)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAFADAH

Food & Beverage Processing Plant Construction

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Industrial Construction (Plants & Facilities)

SECONDARYIMAFACAA

Office & Corporate Building Construction

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Commercial & Institutional Building Construction

SECONDARYIMAFAAAB

Residential General Contracting (New Build)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/General Contracting & Construction Management

Keywords

• Principal contracting services
• Commercial building construction
• Hygienic facility construction
• Student accommodation construction
• Industrial construction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Huddersfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: Principal Contractor and Main Contractor services delivering multimillion pound construction projects. Revenue generated through construction management contracts and direct trade contract responsibilities.
2. Property Development: Developer and contractor role on joint venture partnerships for residential developments such as Lomax, Manchester.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big Red is a UK-based construction principal contractor that delivers building and refurbishment projects as the main contractor. The company operates across food, pharmaceutical, health, petrochemical, residential (student accommodation and apartments), and community sectors, providing end-to-end construction project delivery from planning through handover.

Product overview

Big Red is a construction company operating as part of the BR2.0 Group, offering end-to-end property solutions under the 'Develop. Deliver. Maintain.' ethos. The company provides principal contractor and construction management services, serving sectors including residential (student accommodation, luxury apartments), commercial (community hubs), and industrial (hygienic manufacturing facilities for food, pharmaceutical, health, and petrochemical industries). The portfolio includes projects like Renaissance Works (138 student apartments in Huddersfield), Dundas Works (50 luxury student apartments), Lomax Manchester (41 apartments), The Beacon Centre Manchester (community hub), and a 300,000 sq. ft hygienic manufacturing facility in the North East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Principal Contracting Services

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lighthouse CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024Big Red welcomed Rob Muldoon and Ray Elliott from the Lighthouse Charity to their Lomax Street site as part of the trust's #MakeItVisible roadshow. The charity provides free, confidential support and guidance to improve the lives of those working in construction.
• INEOS HygienicsminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• ReckittminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• GreencoreminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• McCainminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• AB MauriminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• Crown PaintsminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• Revolution Bars Group PLCminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• MagnetminorOthersListed as a partner on Big Red's Our Partners page. Nature of partnership not specifically detailed but indicates collaborative working relationship.
• Mates in MindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Red joined Mates in Mind as a supporter to help break the stigma and silence around poor mental health in the construction industry. The charity works across various industries including construction.
• The Build Network UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBig Red offered their Brunswick Site to The Build Network UK for filming in recognition of World Health Mental Day. The former cotton spinning mill in Manchester was used as backdrop for media platform's latest video.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wates Group: Privately held UK construction and property services group. Competes across commercial, residential and maintenance — directly overlapping with Big Red's BR2.0 'Develop, Deliver, Maintain' offering at a larger scale.
• Morgan Sindall Group: Listed UK construction and regeneration group with fit-out, infrastructure and housing divisions. Overlaps with Big Red on construction management and PBSA/residential delivery but at much larger scale.
• John Sisk & Son: UK and Ireland contractor with industrial, commercial and pharmaceutical construction capability. Overlaps with Big Red's hygienic manufacturing work for pharma and food clients.
• Willmott Dixon: Large UK contractor with residential, commercial and education focus. Comparable to Big Red's community and residential delivery capability, with broader geographic coverage.
• Bowmer + Kirkland: Major privately held UK contractor with strong industrial, commercial and heritage refurbishment portfolio. Competes with Big Red for commercial and industrial construction work across the Midlands and North.
• Kier Group: Listed UK infrastructure and construction group with significant building and maintenance divisions. Comparable on end-to-end property services but with much greater scale and public sector exposure.

Direct peers

• McLaren Construction Group: Privately held mid-size UK contractor delivering commercial, residential and industrial projects. Comparable scale and contract delivery model to Big Red across multiple UK regions.
• Eric Wright Group: North West England-based construction and property group operating across commercial, residential, and civil construction. Highly comparable geographic footprint and project mix to Big Red's North/Midlands focus.
• Clegg Food Projects: UK specialist contractor focused on construction and fit-out for food and beverage manufacturing facilities. Closest direct comparable to Big Red's hygienic manufacturing facility construction work for food and pharmaceutical clients.
• Buckingham Group Contracting: Mid-size privately held UK contractor with strong regional presence across commercial, industrial, leisure and residential sectors. Closely comparable size, contract model, and mixed-use portfolio to Big Red.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WeAreBigRed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-red-industries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Big Red