Contractor of the Year
This category celebrates the achievements of geotechnical contractors or specialist geotechnical divisions within general contracting firms that can demonstrate achievement of clear business milestones over the last year. The award will celebrate firms that have continually delivered innovation, quality and value between January 2024 and January 2025, while improving the business and making it more profitable.
Bachy Soletanche
Bachy Soletanche showcased its technical expertise by delivering a range of projects across the UK. This included: Implementing an innovative grouting solution to support a challenging shaft sinking project in Cardiff; delivering a complex geotechnical scheme in Canary Wharf which involved marine piling and CFA piling; working on a range of assets for HS2 at both Old Oak Common and the N1/N2 section. The company structured its operations into three distinct Divisions to enhance client relationships and service delivery. The Divisions are supported by the creation of dedicated Engineering and Technical Departments, which has driven innovation, efficiency, and profitability. Bachy Soletanche prioritised staff retention and wellbeing through clear communication, comprehensive training, enhanced benefits, flexible working options, and career development opportunities. These initiatives create a supportive and engaging work environment, fostering employee satisfaction and loyalty..
Bam Ritchies
Since 2020, BAM Ritchies has achieved sustained growth in revenue and profitability by focusing on high-barrier-to-entry markets and aligning with the Royal BAM Group’s “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow” strategy. In 2024, we exceeded revenue forecasts by 14%, reaching £92M, and delivered market leading EBITDA. We have started 2025 with over 60% of our order book secure. Our focus is on margin improvement and order book quality. Our unique market position, offering nine Ground Engineering disciplines, and our commitment to training and sustainability, distinguish us. Our workforce is safer and healthier, with a 30% reduction in accident rates in 2024. We actively support communities through outreach and charity work. With 18 entries into the GE Awards, we believe we are the Ground Engineering Contractor of the Year.
Cognition Land and Water
Cognition Land and Water, a leading specialist contractor in brownfield remediation, ground engineering and complex civil engineering focusses on derisking challenging sites, backed by a commendable track record of on-time, on-budget project delivery. With a focus on sustainability as a Zero Carbon company, the firm has achieved significant growth over 20 years, reaching £36M turnover with 150 staff, prioritising innovation, quality and value. Noteworthy 2024 projects included decommissioning power station infrastructure, gasworks remediation, ground improvement on large land development projects and redevelopment of historical landfill sites. Cognition Land and Water’s change to an EOT and the associated business improvements have resulted in enhanced recruitment and retention, greater scope and scale of work, and increased profitability. The company's initiatives for staff retention, well-being, and community contributions align with their Social Value principles.
Dawson Wam
DAWSON-WAM excels through its people-focused approach, innovation, and sustainability. With 40% of staff serving over 10 years and 80% of senior management rising from graduate roles, the company fosters loyalty and development. A 0.0 accident rate over four years and award-winning apprentices highlight its dedication to safety and excellence. In 2024, DAWSON-WAM delivered record-breaking results, achieving 99% repeat business and maintaining strong financial growth. Pioneering technologies like AI human recognition cameras, 4D digital rehearsals, and carbon-saving initiatives solidify its leadership in innovation and environmen-tal stewardship. The company’s contributions to major projects, such as HS2 and Smart Motorways, and award-winning work in flood alleviation and sewer innovation, demonstrate its versatility and impact. As a trusted geotechnical partner for leading contractors, DAWSON-WAM blends expertise, sustainability, and cutting-edge practices to deliver exceptional results for clients and communities.
Menard
In 2024 Menard has continued its upward trend of revenue growth whilst maintaining market leading profitability. Our people are the catalyst of our growth, they take pride in the way we meet the challenges presented to us by our customers and our success is undoubtedly built on our ability to deliver technical solutions, which provide cost, programme and carbon footprint benefits. Our solutions are creating significant carbon benefits compared to traditional piling techniques and we are continuing to innovate to ensure we can deliver further savings. Our most important task of 2024 has been in ensuring that we embed our positive culture across a diverse range of employees, where passion, creativity and ownership are encouraged, so that we can sustain our growth. We are proud that our staff have embraced our Personal Choices behavioural safety programme which has helped us maintain high safety and well-being standards in our work environment.
Soil Engineering Geoservices
Continued investment in people, Processes and Plant have seen Soil Engineering make significant improvements in profitability and environmental impact in 2024. Delivering projects with critical technical and logistical challenges to a consistently high standard across all business streams reflects their ability to adapt and develop while working collaboratively with both clients and supply chain. Refusing to stand still as a company, the embodiment of new business streams to better service market needs has created new ways both for clients to engage, and for careers to progress. Backing this with sustained behavioural and systems development, a willingness to adopt new technologies, and an awareness of responsibility saw the business decrease scope 1&2 emissions by over 20% in 2024, AND share their approach with the wider sector.