NG Bailey strengthens water sector capability with ESG acquisition

NG Bailey has expanded its infrastructure delivery capability with the acquisition of Engineering Solutions Group (ESG), strengthening its position within the UK water sector.

The deal sees ESG integrated into NG Bailey’s Built Environment division, with the existing management team remaining in place to lead the business under its current brands.

Strategic move into a growing market

The acquisition provides NG Bailey with increased exposure to the UK’s water infrastructure sector, particularly as the AMP8 regulatory period gathers pace—representing over £100bn of planned investment across five years.

ESG operates across:

• Water and environmental infrastructure

• Civil engineering

• Mechanical & electrical engineering

• Specialist fabrication and water control systems

Its client base includes major organisations such as the Environment Agency, Severn Trent, Anglian Water and Yorkshire Water.

Strengthening delivery capability

Founded in 1989, ESG brings a strong track record in infrastructure delivery, with its core business supported by specialist capabilities including:

• Civil engineering delivery

• M&E services

• Steel and composite fabrication

• Advanced water control technologies

The addition of approximately 180 employees takes NG Bailey’s total workforce to over 3,600, further enhancing its capacity to deliver complex infrastructure projects.

What this means for the market

This acquisition signals a clear move by NG Bailey to position itself for long-term growth within the UK’s infrastructure pipeline—particularly in water.

More importantly 👇

👉 Increased capability = greater delivery capacity on upcoming frameworks

👉 Stronger positioning = more contract wins likely in AMP8

👉 Growth = expanded supply chain requirements

As water companies ramp up investment, contractors and suppliers should expect:

• New frameworks and project pipelines

• Increased demand for specialist subcontractors

• Opportunities across civils, M&E and fabrication

A business scaling for growth

The move follows a strong financial performance from NG Bailey, with revenue reaching £662m and continued growth in profitability and cash reserves.

With no external debt and a clear expansion strategy, the business is positioning itself to play a major role in delivering the UK’s next phase of infrastructure investment.