Knights Brown Reports £136m Turnover Record as Coastal and Energy Work Drives AMP8 Strategy

Knights Brown Reports £136m Turnover Record as Coastal and Energy Work Drives AMP8 Strategy

Knights Brown has announced a record turnover of £136 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, reflecting a substantial £20 million year-on-year increase. The privately-owned civil engineering contractor secured this 17% revenue jump driven by high-value workloads in its core coastal defence, port infrastructure, and renewable energy markets. With Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortisation (EBITA) reaching £5.4 million and a fortified balance sheet, the firm is now aggressively positioning itself to secure major, long-term frameworks under the upcoming AMP8 water sector investment cycle.

Project overview

• Company: Knights Brown.

• Operating regions: Southern England, South East England, Wales, and the UK energy network.

• 2025 Turnover: £136 million.

• Profitability: £5.4 million EBITA (4% margin) and a gross margin of £15 million.

• Direct workforce: Approximately 350 directly employed staff.

• Core sectors: Coasts and ports, energy, water, civil infrastructure, and building schemes.

• Financial health: Net assets increased by £2.1 million with a year-end cash position of £12.6 million.

• Strategic focus: Securing long-term framework contracts within the AMP8 water investment period.

Delivery partners and key stakeholders

The strategic direction of Knights Brown is led by Group Managing Director Kevin Valentine, who credits the consistent delivery of the 350-strong internal workforce for the record financial performance. To streamline its delivery model for major clients, the business has successfully restructured its operational hierarchy. The highly specialised water and energy divisions are now managed centrally to provide direct support to national utility providers and energy developers. Conversely, the coasts and ports sector, alongside standard infrastructure and building divisions, continues to be delivered through established regional operational centres located across Southern England, South East England, and Wales.

Construction and technical details

The £136 million revenue milestone is underpinned by heavy civil engineering works rather than volatile commercial building projects. Knights Brown has focused heavily on complex marine environments, delivering critical coastal protection schemes, flood resilience infrastructure, and port upgrades. These projects typically involve technically demanding marine piling, revetments, sea walls, and heavy-duty port pavements. Alongside the marine portfolio, the firm has expanded its footprint in the energy transition sector, delivering the civil engineering foundations for onshore wind farms, battery storage facilities, and high-voltage substation connections. Looking ahead, the company's technical focus is shifting heavily toward the AMP8 water cycle. This will require sustained capability in pipeline installation, pumping station construction, and complex mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, and automation (MEICA) interfaces to upgrade the UK water network. The firm relies on a direct-delivery model, utilising its own fleet of plant machinery and an in-house workforce to maintain productivity and site safety.

Timeline

• Financial Year End: Results reported for the period ending March 2026.

• Current Phase: Ongoing delivery of secured marine infrastructure and renewable energy framework contracts across the UK.

• Strategic Shift: Internal reorganisation completed to centralise energy and water divisions.

• Next Steps: Early-stage mobilisation and bidding to secure long-term capital delivery projects under the 2025 to 2030 AMP8 water utility investment cycle.

Strategic importance

This financial result is highly significant for the mid-market civil engineering sector. Achieving a 4% EBITA margin on a £136 million turnover proves that contractors can secure sustainable, profitable returns without exposing themselves to the extreme financial risks associated with Tier 1 mega-projects. By pivoting away from standard commercial building and focusing strictly on climate resilience, energy transition, and utility frameworks, Knights Brown has built a highly defensive and resilient order book. Furthermore, their strong cash reserves of £12.6 million provide the financial liquidity necessary to fund the heavy upfront plant and material investments required for the upcoming AMP8 water frameworks.

Writer's opinion

Knights Brown has delivered a textbook example of smart, disciplined risk management in a challenging construction market. Instead of chasing top-line vanity revenue in low-margin sectors, the leadership team has doubled down on highly technical, barrier-to-entry markets like tidal environments and high-voltage grid connections. Their commitment to a direct-delivery model, employing 350 staff directly rather than relying entirely on a fractured subcontractor supply chain, is clearly paying dividends in both project quality and margin protection. They are entering the AMP8 water boom in an exceptionally strong position.