MacGeo Ltd

What MacGeo Ltd does

MacGeo Ltd is a UK-based specialist geotechnical drilling subcontractor founded in October 2015 by Paul McHugh and headquartered in Burscough, Lancashire. The company delivers the full range of specialist geotechnical and geo-environmental drilling services — Sonic Drilling (using an Eijkelkamp-Fraste CRS XL 150Hz sonic-rotary rig), Rotary Drilling (including Geobor-S wireline coring via Dando 9000 Multitec), Cable Percussion Drilling (Dando 2000/4000), and Dynamic Sampling (Archway rigs) — both onshore and nearshore/offshore across the UK and overseas markets. A proprietary differentiator is the MacLab mobile logging and testing facility, which was Highly Commended at the Ground Engineering Awards 2019 in the Equipment Innovation category and enables on-site sample processing.

The company operates as a subcontractor to main contractors and consultancies in the ground investigation, civil engineering, energy, and infrastructure sectors, with senior engineering staff deployed as site agents on engagements valued at up to £5.5 million (including HS2 Align JV at £5.2M and the Silvertown Tunnel at £5.5M). Its customer base spans Transport for London, HS2-ALIGN JV, Dublin Port Company, Horizon Nuclear Power, the Environment Agency, the Ministry of Defence, and overseas clients in Poland, Egypt, and Ireland. All lead drillers are BDA-audited, and MacGeo is a corporate member of both the British Drilling Association and IJUBOA, with the firm winning Specialist Geotechnical Supplier of the Year at the 2022 Ground Engineering Awards.

Revenue is generated primarily through day-rate and project-based billing for specialist drilling services (e.g., MacPac package at £795/day, MAC01 dynamic sampling at £450/day, NRSWA enabling crew at £400/day), supplemented by larger fixed-price project contracts. The go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-driven, supported by a professional website, industry event participation (Ground Engineering Awards), and direct engagement with main contractors and consultancies. The firm employs approximately 20 personnel across field and office operations in the UK and overseas.

Name

MacGeo Ltd

Legal name

MacGeo Ltd

Website

https://macgeo.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MacGeo Ltd is a UK-based specialist geotechnical drilling subcontractor founded in 2015, delivering the full range of in-house drilling services (Sonic, Rotary, Cable Percussion, Dynamic Sampling) onshore, nearshore and offshore to main contractors, consultancies, and infrastructure developers across the UK and overseas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Drilling Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Support Activities for Mining (2131), Support Activities for Mining (213)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Exploration & Production Drilling Services (RC, Core, Directional, Sonic, Auger) (IMAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical, Hydrogeological & Seismic Engineering (Slope Stability, Ground Support, Dewatering) (IMAKAOAN), Subsea Services & Equipment (Subsea Trees, Umbilicals, Installation, IMR) (EUALABAI)

Keywords

• Geotechnical drilling services
• Sonic drilling services
• Cable percussion drilling
• Nearshore site investigation
• Offshore drilling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burscough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical Drilling Services: Project-based revenue from specialist geotechnical and geo-environmental drilling services delivered as a subcontractor to main contractors and consultancies. Revenue is generated through day-rate billing and project fees, with notable projects exceeding £5 million in total contract value. Services include Sonic Drilling, Rotary Drilling, Cable Percussion Drilling, Dynamic Sampling, Nearshore Geotechnical, Enabling Operatives, and Geotechnical Site Teams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MacGeo Ltd is a specialist geotechnical drilling subcontractor that delivers onshore, nearshore and offshore drilling services across the UK and overseas. Its core offerings span Sonic Drilling (150Hz), Rotary Drilling (including Geobor-S wireline coring), Cable Percussion Drilling, and Dynamic Sampling, complemented by the proprietary MacLab mobile logging and testing facility, Nearshore Geotechnical project delivery, Enabling Operatives crews, and Geotechnical Site Team supervision.

Product overview

MacGeo Ltd is a specialist geotechnical drilling subcontractor offering a comprehensive suite of drilling and investigation services. The company's core service portfolio includes four primary drilling methods: Sonic Drilling (using Eijkelkamp-Fraste CRS XL with 150Hz capability), Rotary Drilling (conventional and Geobor-S wireline methods via Dando 9000), Cable Percussion Drilling (Dando 2000/4000 rigs), and Dynamic Sampling (Archway Engineering equipment). These are complemented by Nearshore Geotechnical services for overwater investigations and Enabling Operatives crews for project support. The MacLab Mobile Logging & Testing Facility is a specialized mobile unit for on-site sample processing. Supporting services include Geotechnical Site Teams, In-Situ Testing & Monitoring, and engineering supervision. All services are delivered in-house with company-employed drilling crews and engineers, operating onshore and nearshore across the UK and overseas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sonic Drilling

Quantifiable outcome

• Project delivery on time and within budget, with full recovery achieved in challenging nearshore/offshore formations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• British Drilling Association (BDA)coreOthersMacGeo is a corporate member of the British Drilling Association. All of MacGeo's Lead Drillers are BDA audited. This membership provides quality assurance and industry recognition for the company's drilling operations.
• International Jack Up Barge Operators Association (IJUBOA)coreOthersMacGeo is a corporate member of IJUBOA, reflecting its nearshore and offshore jack-up barge drilling capabilities and commitment to industry standards for jack-up barge operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Archway Engineering: UK-based manufacturer and operator of dynamic sampling rigs (Archway Lightweight, Heavy Duty, Modular) — MacGeo operates Archway rigs but Archway Engineering itself also delivers dynamic sampling ground investigation services. Comparable as a UK dynamic sampling specialist, with potential equipment-supplier / competitor overlap.

Direct peers

• Terra Datatech: UK-based geotechnical and geoenvironmental contractor delivering rotary, cable percussion, dynamic sampling, and in-situ testing across onshore and nearshore sites. Direct peer for UK infrastructure and environmental ground investigation work.
• Lankelma: UK and Netherlands-based specialist in cone penetration testing (CPT) and offshore geotechnical investigations, with particular strength in nearshore and offshore site characterisation. Directly comparable for the CPT and nearshore components of MacGeo's service mix.
• Central Alliance: UK-based ground investigation contractor providing cable percussion, rotary, dynamic sampling, and sonic drilling services to infrastructure, energy, and environmental clients. Directly comparable as a UK specialist drilling subcontractor competing on similar HS2, highways, and utilities projects.
• Soil Engineering: One of the UK's largest independent ground investigation contractors, offering cable percussion, rotary, dynamic sampling, and in-situ testing across onshore and nearshore environments. Direct peer competing for the same main-contractor subcontract scopes on UK infrastructure.
• ConeTec Investigations (formerly BDB Pitman): International geotechnical site investigation contractor with strong UK CPT and drilling capability, including nearshore and offshore investigations. Direct peer competing for offshore wind, port, and infrastructure ground investigation contracts in the same geographies as MacGeo.
• Geotechnical Engineering Ltd: UK-based specialist geotechnical services contractor offering rotary drilling, cable percussion, dynamic sampling, and ground investigation across onshore, nearshore, and offshore environments. Closely comparable business model and service portfolio to MacGeo, and is explicitly linked from MacGeo's website for 'Our Projects'.

Broad incumbents

• Fugro: Fugro is the global market leader in geotechnical, geophysical, and survey services, with extensive UK operations delivering integrated ground investigation for offshore wind, oil & gas, and infrastructure. Directly comparable as a customer of MacGeo (MacGeo subcontracts to Fugro) and as a competitor for the same large-scale GI packages.
• Bachy Soletanche: Major UK and international geotechnical and ground engineering contractor that competed with MacGeo at the Ground Engineering Awards 2019. While primarily known for piling and ground improvement, Bachy Soletanche also delivers ground investigation, overlapping with MacGeo on large infrastructure packages.
• RPS Group (now part of TetraTech): TetraTech (post-RPS acquisition) is a major international consulting firm providing geotechnical, environmental, and engineering services. TetraTech is also a MacGeo client (Lowestoft FRMP), and competes at the consultancy/oversight layer above MacGeo's subcontracted drilling work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 MacGeo Ltd