Keltbray has announced the launch of its new Distribution & Transmission business.

The division will provide construction, maintenance and repair of electricity overhead lines from low voltage to 275kV for utility clients.

The business, which will be headquartered in Crewe, has been established after Keltbray completed the acquisition of SPIE's electricity transmission and distribution division.

The deal, which will see more than 300 SPIE employees transfer over to Keltbray, includes the acquisition of five new depot sites in the UK, ranging from Selkirk, Castle Douglas and Inverness in Scotland, to Preston in the North West, Didcot and Colchester in the south and Swatragh in Northern Ireland.


The new venture is being led by Managing Director of Keltbray Distribution & Transmission, Mike Snee, who will report to Group Managing Director of Infrastructure & Rail, Phill Price.

Keltbray Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Kerr, said: "My vision has always been to develop Keltbray into a company that is expert in working in sensitive and highly regulated environments; be it rail overhead line electrification, complex city-centre demolition projects, or the decommissioning of heavy industrial facilities.

"We make sites ready for and facilitate new developments and infrastructure and I believe this new, overhead transmission and distribution services division complements our existing offering well, and adds yet another string to our bow.

"Our management team has extensive experience in the utility sector, and I firmly believe the regulated electricity market is an attractive sector for us to tap into, and that our existing services, including engineering design, civils, piling and enabling works will be of benefit to support and grow this utilities service portfolio.

"This acquisition will help grow our established specialist service portfolio. It will also boost our geographical reach and strengthen the Keltbray name within newer territories, such as Northern Ireland."

(LM)