OCU Group is uniquely placed to help water meet some of the biggest opportunities and challenges it has faced in decades.
The company is one of the UK’s fastest growing utility and energy engineering specialists and has worked directly with leading water companies for over 20 years. With a workforce of over 4,000 and a turnover in excess of £500m, OCU has frequently been the partner of choice on a wide range of water industry projects.
These currently include the delivery of two service reservoirs (with more expected to be released in 2024) for Affinity Water, to increase storage capacity and supply resilience for customers. OCU clinched the EPC contracts for the reservoirs in line with Affinity’s Water Retaining Structures Framework, the major focus relating to reducing pressure on precious regional groundwater while securing a continual, reliable customer supply.
OCU has also been appointed to work on the Victorian-era Vyrnwy Aqueduct as part of United Utilities’ overarching modernisation scheme. Work has already started on improvements to one of its three parallel pipelines which will safeguard the supply of high-quality drinking water to North Wales and Merseyside.
Unrivalled Service
OCU’s Pre-construction Director, Mark Rogers, explains, “We have a long and successful track record in delivering clear customer-focused solutions in mains rehabilitation, cross country pipelines, trenchless crossings, water treatment, and design & build.
“Our turnkey services have recently been strengthened even further with acquisitions in treatment capabilities, MEICA, HV and LV. Plus, green energy transition is a huge part of our business; it’s now a major remit for the water companies, and our in-house capabilities are extremely well-matched to meet their complex requirements.
“OCU is unique among the big players as we have a strong self-delivery ethos as a leading Utility and Civil Engineering Contractor operating at T1 into the Water Utility Providers, whilst we also undertake carefully selected and specific opportunities at T2 and in particular Trenchless Solutions using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technics that we can deliver in-house through our dedicated design, planning and construction teams. Our teams have a vast amount of experience in framework contract management, servicing for network builds, ‘one-off’ construction projects, customer and business connections, and these are just a few of the services on offer.”
In fact, OCU have a wealth of experience in all aspects of potable and raw water systems, sewer works, pipe replacement and refurbishment. Their aim is the delivery of efficient, effective and environmentally-friendly water and wastewater networks, treatment facilities and ancillary equipment.
No job is too big or small for the OCU teams; they are as comfortable tackling small diameter mains rehabilitation work as working on large diameter WW&T pipe laying schemes or large sewage works.
OCU also offers reactive and emergency support across the UK and Ireland and has specialised in trenchless construction across a range of diameters and lengths for over 17 years, with market-leading expertise in design and construction, consultation, surveying and innovation. In fact, they were the first business to achieve accreditation under the Lloyds scheme for Trenchless Technology.
Water’s Energy Transition
Mark believes OCU’s energy expertise is a perfect foil for the utilities industry as they strive to bring down spiralling energy costs, protect the environment and achieve net zero targets, in line with Ofwat’s stringent PR24 requirements.
Mark adds, “We are specialists in wind and solar farms, grid connections, battery storage facilities and high-quality power systems in general, and have worked with most of the UK’s distribution network operators and National Grid.
“Whether we are developing water or energy solutions, our overall aim is the same; to offer the best possible service to our clients and their customers alike.”
About OCU Group
OCU is an innovative service provider in the utilities industry, operating on a national scale. The Group delivers a wide range of client-focused business solutions throughout the UK and Ireland, working with a large blue-chip client base in all utility areas including Power, Energy, Telecoms, Water, Rail and Directional Drilling.
On August 4, 2022, OCU was acquired by Triton Partners, one of Europe’s leading investment firms. Triton was founded in 1997, with a belief in engaging with boards, managers, and employees to build better businesses, primarily in Northern Europe. The company focuses on developing medium-sized companies with the potential to create sustainable, long-term value. Triton operates from 12 offices across the world with their current portfolio of companies having combined annual revenues of over €18bn.
Contact
Address: OCU Group, Artemis House,
6 – 8 Greek Street, Stockport SK3 8AB
Telephone: +44 (0)161 248 9922
Email: enquiries@ocugroup.com
