Van Elle
Van Elle is an English geotechnical engineering, piling, drilling and rail-infrastructure contractor.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Van Elle is a United Kingdom-based geotechnical engineering and infrastructure contractor headquartered in Nottinghamshire, between Pinxton and Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Its work centres on piling, ground stabilisation, ground investigation, foundation systems, drilling, specialist logistics and rail infrastructure. The company has operated as an integrated contractor, combining design, investigation, plant, transport, precast-concrete production and site execution rather than focusing on a single construction specialty. The business was founded in 1984 by structural engineer Michael Ellis. An early development came in 1987, when Van Elle acquired the Hoopsafe System and subsequently developed it into Smartfoot, a precast-concrete foundation beam system. In 1997, it acquired A&G Stevenson and rebranded the operation A&G Drilling and Grouting, creating a dedicated ground-stabilisation capability. Further expansion followed in 2003 through a management buyout led by senior directors, the formation of Van Elle Geotechnical Services for ground investigation and pile testing, and the establishment of a Nottinghamshire precast-concrete production centre. A transport division was added in 2006, while Van Elle Rail was created in 2012 to serve railway and rail-related infrastructure work. Van Elle grew rapidly in the first half of the 2010s. For the year ending April 2015, reported turnover rose substantially from the preceding year and profit increased sharply, alongside an increase in employees. The company entered the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2016, raising its profile as a publicly traded specialist contractor. Michael Ellis left the chairmanship later that year with the stated intention of retiring. The period after the flotation was more difficult. Delays on rail projects reduced turnover in 2017, and the collapse of Carillion in early 2018 created direct and indirect commercial uncertainty because Van Elle had worked as a subcontractor on Network Rail projects. The company warned of potential losses and uncertainty over future work, and activity at several sites was paused while contractual arrangements were reassessed. Profitability and revenue weakened further during 2018 and 2019, followed by additional profit warnings and a substantial decline in the share price. The company also experienced a public governance dispute in 2017, when founder Michael Ellis sought to remove senior board members and regain a board position. Shareholders rejected his attempt, while the board argued that his criticism was damaging to the business. A later proposal concerning directors’ pay increases was also rejected by shareholders. The COVID-19 pandemic put further pressure on operations. Van Elle recorded losses and lower revenue during 2020 and reported a pre-tax loss for the year ending April 2021, although it returned to profitability in the following half-year. Thereafter, the company pursued selective expansion and operational restructuring. It acquired Rock & Alluvium from Galliford Try in 2023 to strengthen its presence in southeast England, purchased Scottish drilling specialist Albion in 2024, and announced cost-efficiency measures, including job reductions, in 2024. In 2025, Van Elle entered an eight-year partnership with Wood Transmission & Distribution for electrical-transmission work and transferred its heavy-goods-vehicle fleet under a five-year logistics agreement with WS Specialist Logistics. Later that year, it announced the disposal of the share capital and assets of Van Elle Canada. In April 2026, Austrian contractor Strabag made an offer valuing Van Elle at £58.8 million. The transaction was completed in June 2026 with majority shareholder support, bringing Van Elle into Strabag and ending its status as an AIM-listed independent company. Following completion, the senior management structure was reorganised, including the departure of then-chief executive Mark Cutler.
History
Van Elle was established in 1984 in Nottinghamshire by structural engineer Michael Ellis. The company developed as a specialist ground-engineering contractor, initially building expertise in piling and foundation work. In 1987 it bought the Hoopsafe System and later developed that technology into Smartfoot, a precast-concrete foundation beam system. In 1997, Van Elle acquired A&G Stevenson and renamed it A&G Drilling and Grouting, using the business as a ground-stabilisation unit. A management buyout in 2003 was centred on a group of senior directors. The same year, Van Elle created Van Elle Geotechnical Services to undertake ground investigation and pile testing, and established a Nottinghamshire precast-concrete manufacturing centre. A dedicated transport division followed in 2006, allowing the company to support projects with its own specialist movement and logistics capability. Van Elle Rail was formed in 2012, broadening the company’s infrastructure role into railway projects. The company expanded significantly during the 2010s. In the year ending April 2015, turnover and profit increased sharply and the workforce grew beyond 400 people. Van Elle joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2016, with an initial market capitalisation of around £80 million. Ellis left the chairmanship two months later, intending to retire. Growth was followed by operational and financial pressure. Rail-project delays contributed to lower turnover in 2017. In November of that year, Ellis launched a campaign to remove chief executive Jon Fenton and senior independent director Robin Williams, raising concerns about management, staff departures and financial forecasts. The dispute also involved criticism of the company’s decision to write off more than £330,000 of work associated with building a house for Fenton, who said he would leave the company because of a family illness. The board rejected Ellis’s allegations and accused him of harming the company. Shareholders voted against Ellis’s attempt to return to the board in December 2017. In 2018, shareholders also rejected proposed director pay increases. The collapse of Carillion in early 2018 was a major commercial setback. Van Elle had worked as a subcontractor on projects for Network Rail and warned that it could lose approximately £1.6 million. It also faced uncertainty over approximately £2.5 million of future Network Rail work, and several sites were paused while new contractual arrangements were negotiated. Interim results for the period ending October 2017 showed underlying pre-tax profit of £5.4 million on turnover of £52.6 million, but the six months ending October 2018 produced lower turnover and pre-tax profit. Results for the year ending April 2019 showed further declines, while two additional profit warnings preceded the annual results announcement. The COVID-19 pandemic added pressure in 2020 and 2021. Van Elle reported a loss for the six months ending October 2020, with revenue down by more than one-fifth. For the year ending April 2021, it recorded a pre-tax loss, although revenue remained broadly stable and the company returned to profitability in the subsequent half-year. From 2023, Van Elle resumed expansion and restructuring. It bought Rock & Alluvium from Galliford Try in October 2023, strengthening its position in southeast England. In May 2024 it announced cost-efficiency measures, including job reductions, and in October it acquired Scottish drilling specialist Albion. In January 2025, the company entered an eight-year partnership with Wood Transmission & Distribution for electrical-transmission work. In May, it agreed to transfer its HGV fleet to WS Specialist Logistics under a five-year arrangement. In December 2025, it announced the disposal of Van Elle Canada. Strabag made a £58.8 million offer for Van Elle in April 2026. The acquisition was completed in June with majority shareholder support. Van Elle consequently became part of the Strabag Group rather than remaining an independent AIM-listed company. Its senior management was reorganised after completion, including the departure of chief executive Mark Cutler.
- 2026
Acquired by Strabag
[1]Strabag completed its acquisition of Van Elle, which became part of the Austrian contractor’s group.
- 2024
Albion acquisition
[1]The company purchased Scottish drilling specialist Albion.
- 2023
Rock & Alluvium acquisition
[1]Van Elle acquired Rock & Alluvium from Galliford Try.
- 2016
AIM flotation
[1]Van Elle became publicly traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
- 2012
Van Elle Rail formed
[1]The company established a dedicated rail-infrastructure unit.
- 2006
Transport division established
[1]Van Elle created a dedicated transport division.
- 2003
Management buyout and service expansion
[1]A senior-director-led management buyout took place, alongside the creation of Van Elle Geotechnical Services and a precast-concrete production centre.
- 1997
A&G Stevenson acquired
[1]The acquired company was renamed A&G Drilling and Grouting and operated as a ground-stabilisation unit.
- 1987
Hoopsafe System acquired
[1]Van Elle acquired the Hoopsafe System and later developed it into the Smartfoot foundation beam system.
- 1984
Van Elle founded
[1]Structural engineer Michael Ellis founded Van Elle in Nottinghamshire.
Products and positioning
An integrated specialist contractor for geotechnical engineering and infrastructure projects, combining investigation, design support, piling, drilling, ground stabilisation, precast products, transport and rail capabilities.
Precast-concrete foundation system
Smartfoot
Smartfoot is Van Elle’s precast-concrete foundation beam system, developed from the Hoopsafe System acquired by the company in 1987. It represents Van Elle’s move beyond contracting services into proprietary or internally developed foundation products. The system is associated with the company’s broader structural and ground-engineering offering.
Ground investigation and testing · 2003
Van Elle Geotechnical Services
Van Elle Geotechnical Services was established in 2003 to provide ground investigation and pile-testing work. The unit supports construction and infrastructure projects by examining ground conditions, assessing foundation performance and supplying technical information needed for design and construction decisions.
Rail infrastructure services · 2012
Van Elle Rail
Van Elle Rail was created in 2012 as the company’s dedicated rail-infrastructure operation. It provides specialist ground and foundation work associated with railway projects and has been an important part of Van Elle’s infrastructure portfolio, although project delays and the collapse of Carillion later exposed the business to volatility in the rail-construction market.
Drilling and ground stabilisation · 1997
A&G Drilling and Grouting
A&G Drilling and Grouting was created when Van Elle acquired A&G Stevenson in 1997 and rebranded it. The operation served as Van Elle’s ground-stabilisation unit, complementing its piling and foundation capabilities with drilling, grouting and related ground-treatment work.
Controversies
2017
Founder-led boardroom dispute
Founder Michael Ellis publicly challenged Van Elle’s leadership, seeking the removal of chief executive Jon Fenton and senior independent director Robin Williams and attempting to return to the board. The dispute included allegations about management, staff departures, financial forecasts and a write-off of work associated with a house for Fenton. The board rejected Ellis’s criticisms, and shareholders voted against his return.
Brand decisions
2026
Accept Strabag acquisitionM&ABackground
Strabag made an offer for Van Elle with the support of the company’s majority shareholders.
Action taken
Van Elle was acquired by Strabag in a transaction valued at £58.8 million.
Aftermath
Van Elle became part of Strabag and its senior management was reorganised, including the departure of chief executive Mark Cutler.
Acquisition offer value. £58.8 million (April-June 2026)
2025
Enter electrical-transmission partnershipStrategyBackground
Van Elle sought longer-term infrastructure work outside its traditional project mix.
Action taken
It signed an eight-year partnership agreement with Wood Transmission & Distribution.
Aftermath
The agreement extended Van Elle’s involvement into electrical-transmission infrastructure.
2024
Acquire AlbionM&ABackground
Van Elle aimed to expand its specialist drilling capabilities and Scottish presence.
Action taken
The company purchased Scottish drilling specialist Albion in a transaction valued at up to £3.5 million.
Aftermath
Albion added specialist drilling capacity to the Van Elle platform.
Maximum transaction value. £3.5 million (October 2024)
2023
Acquire Rock & AlluviumM&ABackground
Van Elle sought to strengthen its presence in southeast England.
Action taken
The company acquired Rock & Alluvium from Galliford Try for a consideration of up to £3.8 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Van Elle’s regional reach and specialist geotechnical operations.
Maximum transaction value. £3.8 million (October 2023)
2016
Float on the AIM marketStrategyBackground
After a period of expansion, Van Elle sought access to public capital and a public-market profile.
Action taken
The company was admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange at an initial market capitalisation of approximately £80 million.
Aftermath
The flotation made Van Elle a publicly traded specialist contractor until its acquisition by Strabag in 2026.
Initial market capitalisation. £80 million (October 2016)
2003
Build an integrated geotechnical platformStrategyBackground
Van Elle was expanding beyond core piling work and sought greater control over investigation, testing and materials.
Action taken
The company created Van Elle Geotechnical Services and established a precast-concrete production centre alongside a management buyout.
Aftermath
The move broadened Van Elle’s capabilities across the geotechnical project lifecycle.
Recent events
Van Elle acquired ScrewFast Foundations[2]
Reported:
Van Elle Holdings PLC acquired ScrewFast Foundations for £3.68 million, with £1.76 million payable upfront and up to a further £1.92 million dependent on the acquired company’s performance.
Sources2 sources
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