BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP
From a single excavator in Staffordshire to the region's premier civil engineering partner. A timeline of precision, investment, and family values.
Stability Built on Ownership
Date: 2003
Milestone 1: Roots in the Region
Tilsley Groundworks was not founded in a boardroom; it was founded on a muddy site in Staffordshire with a single used mini-digger and a reputation for hard work. In 2003, the vision was simple: to offer a groundworks service that turned up when it promised and didn't leave until the job was done.
In those early days, we served the local residential market in Lichfield and Tamworth. We learned the trade the hard way—dealing with difficult clay soils, tight garden access, and the unpredictable British weather. These formative years instilled a "site-first" culture in the business. We understand the physical reality of the work because we started in the trench, not the office.
Date: 2010
Milestone 2: The Decision to Stop Renting
By 2010, we faced a common industry bottleneck: reliance on plant hire shops. We found that our ability to hit deadlines was being compromised by the availability of rental machinery. If the hire shop was empty, the site stopped. If a rental machine broke down, we waited days for a mechanic.
Taking Control of the Hardware
We made a strategic decision that defined our future. We stopped renting. We purchased our first brand-new Volvo Excavator, marking the beginning of our transition to a 100% owned fleet. It was a significant financial risk for a family firm, but it paid off immediately. It gave us control.
Today, that single machine has grown into one of the most modern, fully-owned fleets in the West Midlands. This isn't just about vanity; it is about risk management. For our commercial clients, it means we are solvent, asset-rich, and immune to the supply chain shortages that plague the rental market.
Date: 2018
Milestone 3: Becoming a Partner, Not Just a Subbie
As our capacity grew, so did our standards. We recognized that to work with major housing developers and main contractors, "good work" wasn't enough, we needed rigorous compliance.
We invested heavily in our back-office infrastructure, achieving CHAS and SMAS Worksafe accreditation. We implemented digital H&S reporting and moved our quantity surveying in-house. This evolution transformed Tilsley from a "local builder" into a Tier 1 Civil Engineering Partner. We began delivering S104 sewer adoptions and large-scale commercial floor slabs, proving that a family-run firm could compete with the national giants on compliance, while beating them on agility.
Date: Today
Milestone 4: Present Day
We have evolved into a regional powerhouse. With a 50-strong local workforce and a fleet of Stage V low-emission Volvo machinery, we now deliver major infrastructure projects across the 'Golden Triangle' while retaining the personal touch of a family business.
If You Own the Kit, You Own the Schedule
Our Philosophy
This mantra drives every decision we make. In the construction industry, delays are the enemy of profit. By investing in our own machinery, our own heavy haulage transport, and our own maintenance depot, we have removed the external variables that cause delays.
The Maintenance Advantage
We don't wait for a third-party mechanic to drive from London to fix a blown hydraulic hose. We have our own workshop and mobile fitters. Our Volvo fleet is maintained to OEM standards, ensuring that our machines operate at peak efficiency with minimal downtime. For a Quantity Surveyor looking at a tight programme, this reliability is our strongest asset.
Investing in Staffordshire Talent
The Team
We are proud of our heritage in the "Golden Triangle" of logistics. But a fleet of machines is useless without skilled operators. Unlike many national competitors who bus in agency labor from across the UK, we believe in local employment.
We actively recruit from Derby, Burton-on-Trent, and Sutton Coldfield. We run an apprenticeship scheme to train the next generation of plant operators and civil engineers from our own community. When you see a Tilsley van, you are seeing a local team that cares about the reputation we leave behind in our own neighborhoods.
The Leadership Team
While we have grown, we have kept the management structure flat. Our Directors are still accessible. Our Contracts Managers are still on site. We combine the firepower of a large contractor with the personal accountability of the family business that started in 2003.
The Next Chapter: Sustainable Engineering.
Our story isn't finished. The construction industry is changing, and we are preparing for a lower-carbon future. We are currently transitioning our fleet to run on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuels, reducing our net CO2 emissions by up to 90%.
We are exploring electric plant technology for our urban residential projects to reduce noise and pollution. Whether it is a self-build eco-home or a BREEAM Excellent commercial unit, Tilsley Groundworks is ready to deliver the sustainable infrastructure of tomorrow.
