OCU Group, one of the UK’s leading energy transition and utilities infrastructure services companies, today released its annual report and financial statements for the year ending 30 April 2025, marking another year of strong growth and strategic investment. As the UK significantly increases its demand for energy, utilities and digital infrastructure, OCU Group has rapidly evolved its capabilities in response, forming the future landscape of how critical services are more efficiently and safely delivered. In the year ending 30 April 2025, OCU Group’ revenue advanced to £886m, a 45% increase from the previous year, reflecting strong organic growth across multiple sectors as well as the impact of strategic acquisitions. OCU completed three acquisitions during the year, further strengthening our capabilities in energy transition, horizontal directional drilling, and water. OCU’s capabilities now span the full end-to-end lifecycle, from design through to build, commissioning, and maintenance. These include delivery across regulated power, water, digital infrastructure, and energy transition markets. Michael Hughes, CEO of OCU Group, provided insight into the company’s strategic progress, stating, “OCU Group delivered consistently strong strategic and operational progress this year, underpinned by three acquisitions, organic contract wins, and continued investment in technology and talent. Our diversified position across essential UK infrastructure markets provides a robust platform for sustained, long-term value for clients and stakeholders.” David Snowball, Chief Financial Officer of OCU Group, said “OCU Group continues to deliver strong, profitable growth, reflecting excellent progress against our strategic objectives. With a solid capital structure and robust financial footing, we are well positioned to build on this momentum into the future.” As the UK’s leading energy transition and utilities infrastructure services company, OCU Group operates across both regulated and non-regulated markets, providing clients and their customers with safe, reliable, and timely deliveries that align with their future demand. The annual report and financial statements are now available here or on the OCU Group website at www.ocugroup.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

How digital data management transformed environmental performance on the Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 framework Balfour Beatty, the UK’s largest construction and infrastructure provider, has delivered exceptional environmental results on the Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 (TEAM2100) framework, one of the nation’s most ambitious flood defence initiatives. As the UK faces escalating flood threats driven by climate change, the programme is critical to safeguarding London and surrounding communities from tidal flooding. The project demanded strict compliance with some of the most rigorous environmental accountability standards issued by the Environment Agency. Far from a simple box-ticking exercise, every tonne of waste, material delivery, and sourcing decision had to be logged, audited, and proven to meet stringent environmental commitments. Data as a key infrastructure To manage this complex data challenge, Balfour Beatty partnered with Qflow, a leading digital construction data specialist. Harnessing Qflow’s advanced data capture and analysis platform, the team automated environmental reporting processes which historically required extensive manual effort. This digital innovation enabled real-time tracking of waste, sourcing compliance, and transport emissions, freeing sustainability and site teams to prioritise responsible building practices over paperwork. Exceeding expectations The results exceeded expectations. Balfour Beatty achieved 99.6% waste diversion from landfill, surpassing the initially ambitious 96% target. Responsible sourcing compliance reached an exceptional 99.1% far beyond the original 20-30% benchmark generally seen across the industry. This data-driven approach translated into sharper, more strategic, client conversations grounded in live insights rather than lagging reports. Leo Connolly, Sustainability Manager at Balfour Beatty, reflected on the transformation: “The biggest support that Qflow offered was time-saving. Automation of the system provided workable, confident data for us to discuss with the client without needing to spend days going through documents.” The TEAM2100 project’s success coincides with urgent warnings from the Met Office and Environment Agency about the increasing frequency and severity of tidal flooding linked to climate change. The UK government’s long-term infrastructure strategy continues to emphasise resilience and sustainability, underscoring the relevance of this achievement. A blueprint for success Following the success of TEAM2100, Balfour Beatty is extending the use of Qflow’s digital data platform to other landmark projects, including the Wallend Substation. This collaborative model highlights how construction expertise combined with technological innovation offers a blueprint for meeting escalating environmental and regulatory demands. As climate change accelerates the need for resilient infrastructure, Balfour Beatty’s accomplishment on the Thames Estuary flood defence framework highlights the vital role of digital transformation in creating a more sustainable built environment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Choosing a partner for civil work can feel overwhelming. Big stakes, tight schedules, safety rules, and community pressure create a lot of moving parts. We’ve helped teams navigate choices like this many times, and want to share a clear, practical path that helps project leaders pick a partner who delivers on time, on budget, and with quality. Why partner selection matters Good partners reduce risk. Poor choices create delays, cost overruns, and reputational damage. That’s why an upfront, structured approach saves money and stress later. Use these steps to compare firms honestly and pick a team aligned with goals. Start with clarity: define scope, outcomes, and priorities Before contacting firms, answer three questions together: When scope and priorities stay clear, proposals become comparable. That makes shortlisting easier. Evaluate technical capability and delivery experience Look beyond glossy brochures. Ask for concrete evidence: For example, reading about large-scale urban transformation projects can show how design and delivery teams coordinate on complex sites. Review case studies carefully to understand problem solving under pressure: scope changes, utility clashes, or tricky access. See a recent example of coordinated teams tackling massive transformation here: large-scale urban transformation projects. Check track record: safety, schedule, and claims history Safety and time performance tell a lot. Investigate: Ask previous clients about responsiveness during surprises. Firms that communicate clearly under pressure earn trust. Assess resourcing and supply-chain resilience Availability of equipment, skilled crews, and suppliers often determines success. Verify: Also consider firms with flexible resourcing in nearby regions. They often avoid costly downtime. Sustainability, climate readiness, and long-term performance Regulators and communities expect resilient infrastructure. Prioritize partners who can: For those wanting evidence of strong delivery systems and governance, reviewing project management best practices helps. That gives insight into how teams handle lifecycle risk and asset handover. Explore perspectives on delivery and governance here: project management best practices  Quality assurance, testing, and compliance Quality processes matter from day one. Confirm partner can provide: Good handovers reduce future maintenance drama and cost. Communication, culture, and collaboration style Technical skill won’t save a project from poor teamwork. Use interviews to assess culture: Choose partners who match your communication rhythm. That keeps decisions moving. Commercial clarity: pricing, contracts, and incentives Compare proposals on apples-to-apples basis: Commercial fairness encourages innovation while protecting client interest. Local knowledge versus specialist skills Local firms bring regional know-how, permitting networks, and community relationships. National or international specialists offer niche capabilities and deep technical experience. Often, best outcomes come from blended teams that pair local insight with specialist expertise. When a civil specialty becomes essential—say complex piling or wetland restoration—check specialist portfolios and field references. For instance, when earthworks and drainage form project backbone, firms such as Solve Civil show how specialty providers support robust site delivery. Decision checklist: questions to ask final candidates Before awarding contract, confirm these items: Use scorecards to rate responses objectively. That avoids bias. Onboarding: set partnership up for success After selection, run a short onboarding sprint: Early alignment prevents costlier fixes later. Final thoughts Choosing right civil partner shapes project outcome more than any single technical decision. Focus on clarity of goals, proven delivery, resource resilience, and cultural fit. Use structured interviews, scorecards, and targeted reference checks to remove guesswork. When specialized skills matter, linking with experienced civil specialists helps fill gaps without compromising accountability. For teams wanting examples of specialty delivery on earthworks and drainage, consider how external firms integrate with main contractor teams to boost capacity without losing control. If readers want a printable checklist or a sample interview scorecard, we can share one on request. Our goal remains simple: help project leaders choose partners who build durable infrastructure, protect budgets, and earn community trust.

SITECH and Collins Earthworks played host to industry visitors at a recent Fly Day event, showcasing the benefits of drone technology for site mapping and data analytics. The event, held at Collins Earthworks Ball Eye Quarry in Matlock, Derbyshire, demonstrated the advanced capabilities of the Trimble® Stratus platform, highlighting improved project accuracy, greater productivity and integration of workflows as some of the ways customers can benefit from the cloud-based software system. Attendees were given a variety of demonstrations and talks including a discussion on drone flight regulations by the Drone Pilot Academy and a live-flight demonstration by SITECH partners Propeller, who collected flight data for an interactive classroom demonstration of Trimble® Stratus platform.  Danielle Barker, Strategic Account Manager at SITECH UK & Ireland said: “As industries across the country continue to evolve it is vital that companies look to utilise technology to enhance their operations and combat challenges. The Fly Day event was about demonstrating the depth of information available to customers through the partnership between Propeller and SITECH. “We were fortunate to partner with Collins Earthworks Ltd which allowed us to perform a drone site survey of Ball Eye Quarry. This gave visitors a real insight into the features of Trimble® Stratus, such as volume calculations, drainage channel monitoring and a visual timeline of site conditions for enhancing monitoring. The SITECH Fly Day is the first of these events this year, with more to be confirmed and delegates from across the construction, civil engineering, aggregates and technology industries are encouraged to attend to discover how Trimble® Stratus, powered by Propeller, can empower teams and minimise information bottlenecks on-site. Cyrus Wania, Director at EM3 Solutions, commented on the event: “The Fly Day was a great opportunity not only to speak to the experts and find out more about how we can enhance our usage of Trimble® and drone technology, but to network with other professionals from across the industry. “We really valued the opportunity to have a tour of the Ball Eye Quarry and then see how accurately the drone flight processed with Trimble® Stratus, was able to present the information that operators would need to maintain site safety and management.  “The event proved invaluable for both newcomers and existing users of technology in construction. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with SITECH experts, posing questions and gaining insights. I highly recommend that individuals seeking to enhance their operations with advanced construction technology and connect with industry colleagues attend the upcoming Fly Day events as they offer genuine industry insight and valuable technical knowledge.” SITECH continues to bolster their commitment to enhancing skills and knowledge across the construction industry. Find out more here: https://www.sitechukandireland.com/en-gb Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Portable Building Sales has completed the successful delivery of a bespoke 14-module, two-storey office facility for offshore engineering firm Osbit, supporting the company’s rapid expansion at its new manufacturing base at the Port of Blyth. Osbit, a leader in tailored engineering solutions for the offshore renewables sector, required high-quality office accommodation to match the professionalism and scale of its growing operations. The new factory location provided ample workshop space but lacked sufficient office and welfare facilities to support a larger team and host clients on site. To meet these complex requirements, Osbit turned to Portable Building Sales for a fast, flexible and future-proof solution. Within just 16 weeks, Portable Building Sales designed, supplied and installed a modular office building that includes meeting rooms, a canteen, changing rooms, toilet and shower facilities and breakout areas. The building features a plastic-coated steel exterior to complement the factory’s aesthetic, with a Trespa-clad entrance showcasing the Osbit brand. Internally, the layout was configured to accommodate both office and factory staff, with one side of the building offering a clear view into the workshop to maintain alignment between design and production teams. Steve Binney, Director at Osbit, commented: “We wanted a building that reflected the same high standards as the equipment we deliver and that’s exactly what we got. The flexibility, quality and functionality of the modular office have exceeded our expectations. From a working environment perspective, it’s just as good as our main office and has provided a fully operational satellite office and increased our business capacity.” This project highlights the strength of modular construction as a fast, adaptable solution for companies facing growing operational demands. The new office not only enables Osbit to better support its team and clients but also offers scope for future expansion as the business continues to grow. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals