Specialist earthmoving contractor with unique operating method and £1m+ fleet

Our client is a long-established specialist earthmoving contractor based in Northern England. The business works across housing, civil engineering, industrial, remediation and environmental projects. It uses a specialist operating method that allows it to complete earthmoving work with fewer machines and operators than conventional approaches.

Established more than 30 years ago, it has built a strong reputation for carrying out large-scale earthmoving work efficiently using its own specialist plant and an experienced network of operators.

Highlights

• Sales of approximately £494,000 in FY2026
• Profit of approximately £333,000 before owners’ pay
• Substantial owned plant and equipment
• 60% to 70% of turnover typically comes from returning customers
• Strong record of repeat work from contractors and developers
• £90,000 of agreed work currently under way
• No permanent employees and low fixed overheads
• Significant spare capacity within the existing fleet
• More than £400,000 of work generated by customers who originally found the business online
• Owners prepared to provide an extended handover

Services

The business undertakes bulk earthmoving and associated groundworks across a range of construction and land-development projects.

Its equipment allows it to undertake excavation, movement and placement of material efficiently, while GPS technology is used to measure work and achieve accurate finished levels.

Customers and revenue

Customers include housebuilders, civil engineering contractors, remediation specialists, developers and landowners.

Much of the business comes from repeat customers, with contractors returning when later phases or additional sites reach the earthmoving stage. Individual contracts can keep a substantial part of the fleet working for several months.

New business has historically come mainly through referrals, previous customers and online enquiries.

Operations

The company operates with a low fixed-cost structure. Machine operators and additional site staff are brought in as required for individual contracts.

The owners currently manage customer relationships, quotations, site planning and administration. They are willing to provide substantial handover support to a buyer.

Opportunities

The business has traditionally been run around the owners’ preferred workload rather than to maximise fleet utilisation.

A new owner could increase revenue by following up enquiries more consistently, marketing to a wider customer base, increasing geographic coverage and making greater use of the existing plant between larger projects.

Please enquire about this business at your earliest opportunity.