Ipsum Group strengthens its Water & Infrastructure division with acquisition of NPB Utilities Ltd

Ipsum Group has strengthened its specialist Water and Infrastructure division through the acquisition of NPB Utilities Ltd, a UK based utility and water services engineering delivery partner.

The acquisition enhances Ipsum’s position within the UK water sector, supporting increasing demand for resilient, locally delivered infrastructure services across regulated networks. By integrating NPB Utilities engineering expertise with Ipsum’s established Water division capabilities, the Group is further strengthening its ability to deliver end-to-end solutions across the regulated sector in the South, including planned maintenance, reactive response and emergency works.

The combined business brings together a broad range of complementary technical capabilities across wastewater, clean water and civil engineering disciplines. Within wastewater, the Group delivers repairs and maintenance services, treatment works activity and main lining solutions. In clean water operations, capabilities include directional drilling and pipe bursting techniques that support efficient network installation and rehabilitation. The civil engineering service includes slab works and reform work, strengthening the Group’s ability to deliver associated infrastructure requirements across complex utility environments from start to finish.

Ipsum Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrew Cowan, said:

“I am delighted to welcome NPB Utilities to Ipsum. They bring strong technical capability, a highly experienced team and an excellent reputation within the water sector. This acquisition strengthens our presence in the South and enhances our ability to support customers with high-quality, responsive infrastructure services. We look forward to working with the team as part of our continued growth in the Water division.”

Neil Budden, Managing Director of NPB Utilities Ltd, added:

“For many years, NPB Utilities has built its reputation on safe, reliable and responsive delivery across the water sector. Joining Ipsum Group provides a strong platform for continued growth, wider project opportunities and long-term development for our team. We are proud to bring together our expertise and excited about what we can achieve together.” 

This acquisition forms part of Ipsum’s continued strategy of investing in strengthening regional delivery capability, enhancing operational resilience and supporting the long-term performance of critical UK water networks.

Founded in Yeovil, Somerset, NPB Utilities is a specialist water and utility services engineering delivery partner providing a range of services including water mains installation and repair, leak detection and repair, drainage and sewer work, CCTV surveying, groundworks, civil engineering and 24/7 emergency response services. The business has built a strong reputation for technical capability, reliability and responsiveness in support of utility providers and infrastructure operators across the South West and wider Southern region.

The acquisition strengthens Ipsum’s Water division at a time of continued investment in UK water infrastructure, where asset reliability, leakage reduction and network resilience remain key priorities for regulators and operators. The addition of NPB Utilities enhances the Group’s field delivery capacity and supports its ability to respond effectively to both planned programmes and emergency work across the network.

Ipsum operates across the Water, Power, Infrastructure and Controls and Automation sectors, delivering engineering services that enhance asset performance and support the resilience of critical national networks. It delivers end-to-end utility infrastructure solutions through its fully integrated business model, including several specialist businesses such as Core Controls, CountyClean Environmental Services, and Aquaflow Services.