Balfour Beatty
Encyclopedia
Balfour Beatty plc is a British construction, engineering, military housing, rail and investment services company. It is one of the largest construction companies in the UK, and the 15th largest in the world. It is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
.
Balfour Beatty works for customers principally in the UK, the US, South-East Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
: they described the company as "general and electrical engineers, contractors, operating managers for tramways, railways and lighting properties and for the promoting of new enterprises" and soon it expanded into civil engineering. In 1922 George Balfour and Andrew Beatty established Power Securities to develop and fund hydro-electric projects. By 1924 the business was operating internationally.
In 1969 Power Securities, which by then owned Balfour Beatty, was taken over by cable manufacturer BICC
. Then in 2000 BICC, having sold its cable operations, renamed itself Balfour Beatty.
More recently Balfour Beatty has embarked on a series of acquisitions including Mansell plc, another construction services business, for £42m in 2003, Birse plc, a UK construction & Civils contractor, for £32 m in 2006, Centex Construction, the commercial construction division of the US builder Centex
, for £180m in 2007 and Cowlin Construction, a UK construction company based in Bristol
also in 2007.
In 2008 the Company bought GMH Military Housing, a US-based military accommodation business, for £180m and Dean & Dyball, a leading UK regional contractor, for £45 million.
In March 2009 the company was found to be a subscriber to the Consulting Association, a firm which has now been prosecuted in the UK by the Information Commissioner
for breaching the Data Protection Act by holding a secret database of construction workers details, including union membership and political affiliations. As of January 2010, individual workers started suing the company for being on the blacklist. The first of these cases however was ruled in favour of the Company.
In September 2009 the Company agreed to buy Parsons Brinckerhoff
, a US-based project management firm, for $626 million. Then in November 2010 the group bought the remnant of collapsed UK construction company Rok plc for £7 million.
Programme and project management, architectural services, project design, technical services, planning and consultancy.
Building, design, construction management, refurbishment and fit-out, mechanical and electrical services, civil engineering, ground engineering and rail engineering.
Facilities management and business services outsourcing; upgrade and maintenance of water, gas and electricity networks; highways network management, operation and maintenance; and rail renewals.
Operating a portfolio of long-term PPP concessions in the UK, primarily in the education, health and roads/street lighting sectors.
Operating a portfolio of long-term military accommodation PPP concessions in the United States. Balfour Beatty also has interests in non-PPP assets in the UK.
The company is a 50% shareholder in Gammon Construction
, based in Hong Kong. Balfour Beatty is a member of Constructing Excellence
and the UK Contractors Group
, comprising members of the Confederation of British Industry
.
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions to and demotions from the index take place quarterly in March, June, September and December...
.
Balfour Beatty works for customers principally in the UK, the US, South-East Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
History
Balfour Beatty was founded in 1909 by George Balfour, a Scottish mechanical engineer, and Andrew Beatty, an English chartered accountantChartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
: they described the company as "general and electrical engineers, contractors, operating managers for tramways, railways and lighting properties and for the promoting of new enterprises" and soon it expanded into civil engineering. In 1922 George Balfour and Andrew Beatty established Power Securities to develop and fund hydro-electric projects. By 1924 the business was operating internationally.
In 1969 Power Securities, which by then owned Balfour Beatty, was taken over by cable manufacturer BICC
British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables was a 20th century British cable manufacturer and construction company, now renamed after former subsidiary Balfour Beatty.-History:...
. Then in 2000 BICC, having sold its cable operations, renamed itself Balfour Beatty.
More recently Balfour Beatty has embarked on a series of acquisitions including Mansell plc, another construction services business, for £42m in 2003, Birse plc, a UK construction & Civils contractor, for £32 m in 2006, Centex Construction, the commercial construction division of the US builder Centex
Centex
Centex Corporation began as a Dallas, Texas based home builder in 1950.-Division:*Centex Destination Properties*Centex Homes*Centex Insurance*Centex Title*CTX Mortgage*Fox & Jacobs Homes-External links:****...
, for £180m in 2007 and Cowlin Construction, a UK construction company based in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
also in 2007.
In March 2009 the company was found to be a subscriber to the Consulting Association, a firm which has now been prosecuted in the UK by the Information Commissioner
Information Commissioner
The role of Information Commissioner differs from nation to nation. Most commonly it is a title given to a government regulator in the fields of freedom of information and the protection of personal data in the widest sense.-Canada:...
for breaching the Data Protection Act by holding a secret database of construction workers details, including union membership and political affiliations. As of January 2010, individual workers started suing the company for being on the blacklist. The first of these cases however was ruled in favour of the Company.
In September 2009 the Company agreed to buy Parsons Brinckerhoff
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Parsons Brinckerhoff is a professional services firm with 14,000 employees in 150 offices providing construction and operation management, planning, design, engineering, program management, strategic consulting, environmental and sustainability services for clients and communities in the Americas,...
, a US-based project management firm, for $626 million. Then in November 2010 the group bought the remnant of collapsed UK construction company Rok plc for £7 million.
Operations
Balfour Beatty has four businesses:- Professional Services
Programme and project management, architectural services, project design, technical services, planning and consultancy.
- Construction Services
Building, design, construction management, refurbishment and fit-out, mechanical and electrical services, civil engineering, ground engineering and rail engineering.
- Support Services
Facilities management and business services outsourcing; upgrade and maintenance of water, gas and electricity networks; highways network management, operation and maintenance; and rail renewals.
- Infrastructure Investments
Operating a portfolio of long-term PPP concessions in the UK, primarily in the education, health and roads/street lighting sectors.
Operating a portfolio of long-term military accommodation PPP concessions in the United States. Balfour Beatty also has interests in non-PPP assets in the UK.
The company is a 50% shareholder in Gammon Construction
Gammon Construction
Gammon Construction Limited is a leading construction contractors headquartered in Hong Kong. In addition to local construction projects, it also actively participating in various projects in China and Southeast Asia.-History:...
, based in Hong Kong. Balfour Beatty is a member of Constructing Excellence
Constructing Excellence
Constructing Excellence is a UK-based construction industry membership organisation. In the UK, it is unique insofar as its member organisations are drawn from across the industry supply chain, ranging from clients, through contractors and consultants, to suppliers and manufacturers of building...
and the UK Contractors Group
UK Contractors Group
The UK Contractors Group is the main association for UK construction contractors. Established in January 2009, it succeeded the Major Contractors Group and the National Contractors Federation which had until that point represented the views of the leading UK contractors.Its members include Balfour...
, comprising members of the Confederation of British Industry
Confederation of British Industry
The Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
.
Major projects
Projects involving Balfour Beatty include:- The Kielder DamKielder WaterKielder Water is a large artificial reservoir in Northumberland in North East England. It is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, the largest human-made woodland in Europe. It was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy an expected rise...
, Northumberland, 1982 - The Docklands Light RailwayDocklands Light RailwayThe Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
in London, 1985 - Large parts of the M25 motorwayM25 motorwayThe M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
around London, 1986 - The Channel TunnelChannel TunnelThe Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
, 1994 - The Cardiff Bay BarrageCardiff Bay BarrageThe Cardiff Bay Barrage lies across the mouth of Cardiff Bay, Wales between Queen Alexandra Dock and Penarth Head. It was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe during construction in the 1990s.-History:...
, 1999 - The Lesotho Highlands Water ProjectLesotho Highlands Water ProjectThe Lesotho Highlands Water Project is an ongoing water supply project with a hydropower component, developed in partnership between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa. It comprises a system of several large dams and tunnels throughout Lesotho and South Africa. In Lesotho, it involves the...
, 2002 - Nam Cheong StationNam Cheong StationNam Cheong is a Hong Kong MTR station located at the ground level beneath West Kowloon Highway, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon and opposite to Fu Cheong Estate. It is served by the Tung Chung Line and West Rail Line, providing cross-platform interchanges between Platform 1 and Platform 4 Nam...
, Hong Kong, 2003 - The Pergau DamPergau DamPergau Dam is the hydroelectric dam in Kuala Yong, Kelantan, Malaysia. It is located about 100 km west of Kota Bharu.-Power station:The power station is a hydroelectric power station, using 4 turbines of 150 MW installed capacity...
hydroelectric project in Malaysia, 2003 - The M6 TollM6 TollThe M6 Toll , connects M6 Junction 4 at the NEC to M6 Junction 11A at Wolverhampton with of six-lane motorway. The weekday cash cost is £5.30 for a car and £10.60 for a HGV...
, 2003 - University College London HospitalUniversity College HospitalUniversity College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
, 2005 - Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial BridgeIgor I. Sikorsky Memorial BridgeThe Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge carries the limited-access Connecticut Route 15 over the Housatonic River, between Stratford and Milford, Connecticut. The bridge was first referred to as the Sikorsky Bridge because Sikorsky Aircraft is headquartered just north of the bridge...
, ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, USA, 2006 - Burj Mall, DubaiDubai MallThe Dubai Mall is the world's largest shopping mall based on total area and sixth largest by gross leasable area. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it is part of the 20-billion-dollar Burj Khalifa complex, and includes 1,200 shops...
, 2008 - The United States Capitol Visitor CenterUnited States Capitol Visitor CenterThe United States Capitol Visitor Center is a large underground addition to the United States Capitol complex which serves as a gathering point for up to 4,000 tourists and an expansion space for the US Congress. It is located below the East Front of the Capitol and its plaza, between the Capitol...
, 2008 - The Birmingham Super Hospital near Selly OakSelly OakSelly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, Birmingham, 2010 - The King's Cross St. Pancras tube stationKing's Cross St. Pancras tube stationKing's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
Northern Ticket Hall completed in 2009 - The East London LineEast London LineThe East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
, completed in 2010 - The A3A3 roadThe A3, known as the Portsmouth Road for much of its length, is a dual carriageway, or expressway, which follows the historic route between London and Portsmouth passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. For much of its length, it is classified as a trunk road...
Hindhead TunnelHindhead TunnelThe Hindhead Tunnel is a road tunnel that opened on 29 July 2011 as part of the new Hindhead bypass for the A3 road in Surrey. It forms part of the 4 mile dual-carriageway being built to replace the last remaining stretch of single-carriageway on the London to Portsmouth road...
completed in 2011 - The London Aquatics Centre due to complete in 2011
- The M25 motorwayM25 motorwayThe M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
widening J16 to 23 and J27 to 30, due to complete in 2012 - The Blackfriars stationBlackfriars stationBlackfriars station, also known as London Blackfriars, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. Its platforms will eventually span the River Thames a short distance downstream from Blackfriars Bridge. The current entrance is located on the...
and Bridge Construction Works due to complete in 2012 - The new main facility for Parkland Memorial HospitalParkland Memorial HospitalParkland Memorial Hospital is a hospital located at 5201 Harry Hines Boulevard, just west of Oak Lawn in Dallas, Texas . It is the main hospital of the Dallas County Hospital District and serves as Dallas County's public hospital.- History :The original hospital opened in 1894 in a wooden...
in Dallas, TexasDallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
due to complete in 2014 - CrossrailCrossrailCrossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
Liverpool Street stationLiverpool Street stationLiverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
and Whitechapel station due to complete in 2018