1,000,000+
Orders handled per year
Homes connected
Tonnes recycled
Metres gas pipe laid
Who we are
Ferns is one of the largest independent utility infrastructure services providers in the south of the UK. We are proud to provide the services that keeps infrastructure working for our communities.
Ferns was incorporated in 1996, growing to combine Ferns Surfacing Ltd and then onto its acquisition of Forefront Utilities to the formation of Ferns Traffic Management then brought together into the Ferns Group of companies we see today.
Working today to leave an indelible mark
on the landscape of tomorrow.
What we do
With a combined workforce of more than 1000 staff, operating in over 12 sites across the south of the UK, Ferns operates across a broad range of industry sectors, including Gas, Water, Telecoms, Infrastructure, Energy, Traffic Management and Aggregates.
We have a proud family heritage and a track record for delivering the best outcomes for our clients and the communities in which we operate.
We play a crucial role in helping to keep the water running, the lights on and people connected. We bring our can-do attitude and the best technology to get the job done.
Done safely. Done cost-effectively.
Done sustainably. Done together.
Our future is exciting
We believe we contribute to stronger communities by making them safer and more sustainable.
Behind the scenes, we are proud to provide the services that keep infrastructure working for our communities.
Our clients have the flexibility to incorporate our expertise at virtually any phase of a project. We are a trusted partner, providing expertise to help clients maintain and improve their assets, enhance customer experience and protect the natural environment. Everything we do is designed to drive sustainable and continual improvements.
Our strategic priorities are centered around:
- Being More Competitive
Enacting Superior Cost Leadership & Differentiation Advantage (Distinctive Brand & Operational Prowess). - Serving Customers Better
Listen to our customers to make improvements across the business. Continually improving and expanding our offering. - Simplifying and Speeding Up
Continue to simplify and speed up, building a culture based on high performance & teamwork. We are cost conscious, always finding ways to be a more efficient business. - Creating and Scaling for Profitable Growth
Organising ourselves with People, Structure and Processes in readiness to scale profitably.
Strategy & excellence
We differentiate ourselves through our client focus, innovation and our superior operational prowess. Our strategy encourages us to create a culture where we seek to improve every day to deliver successful outcomes.
Service Excellence is our blueprint for success, brought to life by the pride and passion of the people in our business.
Capabilities
Our service capability spans the full asset lifecycle – from aggregate extraction, survey and engineering, capital works, operations, maintenance and asset management – complemented by technology enabled solutions and deep technical expertise.
Our clients
Ferns is recognised as being a first class highly effective Contractor that works within a winning network of clients and suppliers together creating mutual enduring value to each other and to the community in which we operate.
Core clients
Other clients
We are pleased to be able to work in collaborative relationships with a growing and wide diversity of clients.
Case studies
Work we’ve done for the Water, Gas and Electricity industries and here are a few words from some of them.
Thames Water
April 2015 – Present
Ferns currently operate a full reinstatement service to our client Thames Water. Our current geographical area covers the Central London and inside the M25 corridor.
Ferns currently undertake the following work streams and all reinstatement activities are undertaken in house including:
- Repair & Maintenance works (Central London)
- Repair & Maintenance works (East London)
- Large Consequential Works across both areas
- We have depot facilities in Wembley & Hackney (East London)
- Backfill & Muck Away
- Surface Reinstatement
- 24 Hour Call Out
- Specialist Surfaces (York stone, Mastic, Chinese Setts)
- Heavy Lifting Operations
- Clearance of SLG
- Jet Wash
- Repair of Ducts & Drains
- Road Sweeping Activities
- Road Planning
We currently undertake on the contract in excess of 25,000 small – hole excavations per annum. We also undertake large reinstatement works as a result of repair works.
Openreach
November 2022 – Present
Ferns currently operate a full turnkey service to our client BT Openreach. Our current geographical area covers 50% of the UK, from operation and maintenance contracts in Bristol, Wiltshire and Dorset and in the Chilterns region to Full Fibre Build projects UK wide.
Ferns currently undertake the following work stream:
- Openreach Network Services – Civils, Poling & Flex/Fibre
- Complex Manholes for 50% of the UK
- FTTP Provisioning Works
- Fibre Build delivering turnkey services from survey and design to testing and commissioning
We have depot facilities in Maidenhead, Wrotham, Chippenham, Brentwood and London.
We currently operate a direct labour model for all our works, enabling us to continuously optimise the assets we build, maintain, and operate.
Kent County Council
July 2023 – Present
Ferns delivers critical drainage and infrastructure services to Kent County Council for new surface water drainage systems, including drains, pipe work, culverts, pumping stations, and/or new SUDS retro fit features, manholes/catchpits, soakaways, gullies, major resurfacing works and works to ponds and lagoons.
Ferns currently undertake the following work streams:
- Routine maintenance, such as ironworks, ditching and siding, etc.
- Replace or repair damaged assets which may include broken pipes, deep bore of existing soakaways, broken covers, manholes, gullies, brickwork including headwalls, damaged culverts, etc.
- General Reinstatement works including carriageway repairs.
- Traffic management operations associated with the Employer’s instruction including permitting/noticing.
- Design of temporary works
Accreditations
Our excellence in health and safety, environmental awareness, quality and service ensures our accreditations endorse our reputation.
Ferns Group Companies
