B Corp success lays the groundwork for Chasetown Civil Engineering’s £150m revenue drive

A leading civil engineering and groundworks specialist has capped a year of growth by achieving B Corp accreditation for the first time.

Chasetown Civil Engineering, part of the Tara Group of companies, took just 10 months to successfully secure the global standard that recognises businesses which operate to high, verified standards of social and environmental performance, governance, transparency and accountability.

The company, based in Burntwood, scored highly for its commitment to safety, local supply chain development and early talent initiatives that are successfully reversing the skills drain in the sector by attracting young people to the industry.

Achieving B Corp is extremely rare in the civil engineering sector, with the firm scoring 86.9 points in the Impact Assessment, well above the threshold for accreditation.

It marks a successful 12 months for the business, which has seen revenues continue past the £100 million mark and, alongside its core residential groundworks, has featured delivery of the high-profile Walton-on-Trent bypass project, strong growth in defence, new work in water and increased interest from private developers, Tier 1s and the public sector.

“B Corp hasn’t asked us to become a different business; it has asked us to prove, in detail, what we already are,” said Euan Grant, managing director of Chasetown Civil Engineering.

“Looking after our team, spending locally with the supply chain and giving young people a way into the industry have been in our DNA for more than 50 years. What this process has done is test that rigorously, measure it and hold us accountable for it going forward.

“All areas of the business have been plugged into the process, including apprentices and graduates who have been leading from the front. It underlines the culture we have running through Chasetown, and this is just the start…we’re going to continue improving and setting the standard when it comes to social impact and ESG.”

Chasetown Civil Engineering, which employs nearly 150 people directly, provides clients with access to highways and infrastructure, environmental engineering, excavation and earthworks, groundworks, drainage and urban development services.

Founded in 1974 by the late Noel Sweeney, the family-owned company delivers projects ranging from £500k to £50m for major developers, contractors, public sector clients and, more recently, defence and water.

Securing B Corp saw the business provide detailed evidence in five areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

B Lab, the awarding body, then reviewed and verified it independently, praising Chasetown Civil Engineering for its focus on supporting local supply chain development, with over half of all spend directed to firms within 50 miles of its Burntwood HQ.

Buying close to site cuts the transport miles on deliveries and feeds directly into the carbon emissions reduction it has achieved over the last 12 months.

Its ‘early talent’ strategy was also highlighted for the way it opens routes into the sector for people who would otherwise struggle to find one such as the Work Ready Talent programme, which offers insight days and structured work experience, and the Career Ready apprenticeship scheme.

16 per cent of the workforce is now in ‘earn and learn’ roles, with employees able to progress from a Level 2 apprenticeship all the way through to funded degree-level study.

Euan added: “This is not a badge you can buy or a form you fill in. It meant changing our constitution, putting Board-level governance around our impact and opening part of the business up to independent scrutiny. Only a handful of civil engineering contractors in the UK have achieved it, which tells you how high the bar is.

“B Corp will also strengthen our position with clients, particularly in public sector procurement where social value carries real weight.

“It matters for attracting and retaining talent too. People increasingly want to work for responsible businesses that have a positive impact. If we are going to meet our target of £150m revenues by 2030, we will need at least another 30 people to join the Chasetown Civil Engineering team.”