Balfour is preparing to expand its combined direct and supply chain workforce from about 3,200 people this year to 6,000 by 2030, as the UK enters a major new phase of electricity network investment.
The contractor told investors that network owners are expected to invest around £80bn in transmission infrastructure by 2031. A further £89bn of investment has already been identified for the period after 2030, suggesting that demand could remain strong beyond the current decade.
Power order book reaches £2.1bn
Balfour’s power order book has grown fivefold since the first half of 2023 to £2.1bn. It also reported a further awarded pipeline worth between £6bn and £8bn, while first-half power revenue reached £366m, 130% higher than in the same period of 2023.
The business estimates that it held 25% of the UK power transmission market in 2025. Its work is expected to include new substations, overhead lines, underground cables and converter stations, supporting the connection of new generation and the reinforcement of existing networks.
Electric vehicle adoption, electric heating, data-centre demand, decarbonisation and energy security are expected to support the longer-term workload.
Painter Brothers capacity to rise
Balfour is also increasing production at its Painter Brothers manufacturing facility in Hereford, which supplies steel towers and substation structures. Planned annual capacity is set to rise from 10,000 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes, having doubled from 5,000 tonnes in 2023.
The factory is supplying more than 1,500 towers for Balfour projects. The contractor said its positioning is supported by long-term frameworks, specialist crews and in-house manufacturing capability.