Laing O’Rourke

Laing O’Rourke is a privately owned multinational engineering and construction group headquartered in Dartford, Kent, delivering large-scale infrastructure and building projects across the UK, Middle East, Europe and Australia. Formed in 2001 from the combination of John Laing plc’s construction arm and R. O’Rourke & Son, it operates through two main hubs (Europe and Australia) and an in‑house supply chain that includes specialist brands such as Expanded, Explore, Select Plant Hire, Laing O’Rourke Middle East, Crown House Technologies and Vetter. The group provides engineering, construction and project management services across sectors including infrastructure, healthcare, leisure, rail, defence, science and research, data centres, and energy and water. In 2022/23 it reported revenue of £3.64bn and 10,603 employees, and by FY24–FY25 group revenue had reached around £4.0bn with a record order book of £11.9bn. In the energy value chain Laing O’Rourke focuses on complex power and water infrastructure. In the UK it is joint‑venture contractor for the main civil works at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and a civil works alliance partner for the proposed Sizewell C plant, and it supports planning for small modular reactors. As an enterprise partner to National Grid it applies modern methods of construction to the Great Grid Partnership to expand low‑carbon electricity transmission, and it is developing capabilities in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. In Australia it delivers balance‑of‑plant works for wind farms, solar farms, battery energy storage systems and pumped hydro, alongside gas and conventional power projects and advanced water treatment assets. The group’s operating model combines digital engineering, modular manufacturing and modern methods of construction via UK factories including its Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction. Strategic priorities include recovering margins, growing in six priority sectors (notably energy and green power, rail and road, defence, healthcare, science and research, and data centres), and embedding quality, safety and sustainability. Laing O’Rourke has achieved BS 99001 quality certification across all UK entities, runs a global code of conduct and a dedicated health, safety and environmental management system, and has set targets to decarbonise its own operations by 2030, progress toward net zero before 2050 and achieve gender balance in its global workforce by 2033. It pursues low‑carbon innovation through initiatives such as partnerships on low‑carbon concrete, structural testing of lower‑carbon bridge systems, increased renewable and alternative fuels, and large-scale water and sewerage projects that improve environmental outcomes.