In an age of decarbonisation and complex industrial projects, demand has never been greater for the services of mechanical and electrical engineering business Salko UK and its integrated, turnkey solutions that help customers navigate big hoops. A long period of growth looks assured for the 25-year-old family firm so long as it can source enough skilled workers – an issue of major concern for many businesses and one Salko has been actively tackling. Founded by chief executive and former contractor Dean Murphy, as the UK’s industrial base has evolved with resilience now to the fore so has the company’s site-based model, which spans a range of expertise in key sectors such as power generation, construction and engineering.

Most recently its wide experience in mining, welding, heating and cooling has extended to supplying specialists for the nuclear sector. Here a new approach is being taken to power stations that looks at what is achievable with a life-extending upgrade.  Along with a core team of 20, plus more than 160 nationwide,  internationally it works on projects in Europe, the Middle East and Chile. Job creation is at record levels which has led to a £15 million turnover forecast for 2026/27. “We combine technical capability, industry knowledge and a customer-first approach allowing us to operate flexibly,” says operations manager Simeon Sharphouse.

“In today’s landscape where modern electrical systems underpin essential infrastructure and energy security is a major concern, our commitment to advanced diagnostics and testing is vital. By incorporating precision testing equipment into both installation and ongoing maintenance the company ensures the integrity of systems from the outset and prevents costly failures down the line. We’re more than a contractor but a partner in projects that require not only technical innovation, but a reliable, expert workforce capable of delivering at scale.”

Well placed to support industrial transitions, Salko is based in Spaldington, East Yorkshire, where it also has its own fabrication workshop. The UK’s east coast is seeing a surge in infrastructure schemes and the company has high hopes for the Humber 2030 Vision plan, an emissions slashing blueprint incorporating carbon capture, storage and hydrogen production.

Salko’s under-the-surface ventilation and pipework also contributed to minimising visual impact at the Woodsmith Mine, Europe’s deepest mine shaft where reserves of the agricultural fertiliser polyhalite lie beneath the North York Moors national park. 

In Immingham, it’s working on a new build open-cycle gas turbine designed to support grid stability and rapid power deployment.“This reinforces our energy credentials,” adds Sharphouse.

As the engineering workforce ages and shortages become more acute,  the company is investing in a targeted upskilling strategy and promotion of rewarding technical careers for young people. “Demand is limitless for those who have the skills,” says Sharphouse. “We have to be future ready.” www.salko.co.uk

New era renewable energy business Synth Solar is generating stellar growth as it introduces smart tech and reliable services that keep customers supported and in control. Founded last year by first time entrepreneurs Max Lines and Tom Elvidge the company with a team of six designs, installs and monitors green systems for UK homes and businesses. Now a trusted partner of leading supplier Octopus Energy that has further cemented its reputation for competence in a sector which, despite regulatory safeguards, still harbours a patchy record for high standards and consumer fair play.

This year Synth, which holds MCS quality and safety assurance accreditation, is forecasting a £1million turnover and £8million in 2027 based on its current install pipeline and regional expansion plan. It’s a position that after bootstrapping the operation makes Lines and Elvidge ready to consider external investment. With £400,000 to £500,000 in mind this would go towards doubling staff numbers and further building the tech. “We would welcome strategic investors, angels or a technology company that know about solar and are aligned with our mission,” confirm the pair.

They became friends while working together scaling tech operations at Uber and say “we saw how software could transform broken industries slow to respond to changing times”.

For energy those were prices rising because of the Ukraine invasion, people’s environmental concerns, no VAT on domestic installations and technology advances lowering hardware costs. “We believed the same tech start up efficiency approach was needed for solar,” they explain, “so fast response times, beautiful tools, customised videos, clear communication and registration documents and a relentless focus on improvement. We’re reinventing a traditional industry bringing software discipline to field execution and we will stay with a customer for as long as the panels last, so 25 years plus.”

Sourcing the best accredited and guaranteed equipment via wholesalers, Synth’s crown jewels are its apps, developed in-house. The SunMapper quoting tool uses satellite imagery and weather data to generate instant solar designs and pricing for any rooftop. Unlike some contractors, Synth makes no difference in price about installing on slate surfaces.The company’s optimising SunDial live performance dashboard is updated every few minutes showing customers how exactly their system is producing and saving energy. This enables Synth to fix any problem as soon as possible. “We can spot trouble before our clients,” says Elvidge. “Property owners get the best experience with our solar and batteries so they save the most money and carbon, we sweat our systems,” adds Lines.

New forecasting tech coming soon will guide customers as to when it’s best value to charge the system or export power back to the grid.Domestic fits can take just a couple of days with bird mesh protection included. Recent commercial expansion includes installations for farms, transport depots and small businesses. Zero-emission bus company Ember was able to scale its fleet charging capacity after a deal was brokered with a neighbouring storage company whose roof now hosts Synth’s panels. “The creative tech mindset was applied very successfully,” observes Lines.

“Tech is an industry built on collaboration. Over time we want Synth to be the go-to platform for home energy transformation and full electrification. Solar is just the first step.https://synth.solar/

   

Electrical powerhouse Eland Cables is ramping up expansion as global demand surges with data centres, artificial intelligence systems and critical infrastructure decarbonisation projects leading the charge. The independent UK producer, which has hit a record £273m turnover this year, operates a site in Doncaster with an office in London and supplies thousands of the low and medium voltage connections that are a mainstay of today’s power distribution landscape and the electricity-hungry, green energy transition.

The 30 per turnover rise reflects its key role in decarbonisation projects and recently it secured a £70m funding package from HSBC to expand its sustainability projects work spanning sectors including renewable energy, automation and manufacturing. Clients, both contractors and end users, are in over 100 countries and include Network Rail, Tesla and US multinational General Electric.

Sales have rapidly increased post-pandemic for the business which, after almost 50 years of trading and a key management buy-out in 2006, employs 237 with 88 per cent staff retention rate. Now seeing a 50 per cent year-on-year increase in orders, a turnover of £300 million plus is the aim for 2026. The cables, composed of rubber and metals – predominantly copper and aluminium, are designed in house with manufacturing carried out in Europe and Turkey. After that the products are returned for distribution and storage.

The cables, composed of rubber and metals – predominantly copper and aluminium, are designed in house with manufacturing carried out in Europe and Turkey. After that the products are returned for distribution and storage.

Innovations such as its cable testing laboratory, a centre of excellence, with gold-standard accreditations and a cable recycling operation, both in Doncaster, are giving Eland the edge over competitors while investment in a fleet of more than 50 HGVs running on HVO biofuel underline its commitments to reliable delivery and sustainability.  

Yet despite being the arteries of the modern world keeping it running, electrical cables are unsung heroes and “never thought of as an industry,” reflects Eland’s executive director Jean-Sebastien Pelland.“Yet Eland is central to this once-in-a-generation upgrade to critical infrastructure and one of the fastest growing suppliers. We’re increasing our stockholding and orders are at a record high. There are nuances to every inquiry so the exact product is delivered as requested. We also understand our customer knows his industry but is not necessarily a cable expert so our technical advice really counts. There’s never a one-size-fits-all solution for industry.”

Medium voltage cables, chunky ones running from local substations into transformers in long runs and often buried underground, are strong sellers with Saudi Arabia and Africa opening up some of the biggest opportunities. 

“There are always variants depending on performance demands, installation design and environmental challenges,” adds Pelland. “They are installed at the early-stages of any project build so have the advantage of us being involved from the get-go.” 

And in a marketplace where sub-standard cables circulate with the potential to cause horrendous disruption, Eland’s testing lab “gives customers peace of mind so they can install with confidence,” he explains. Its zero waste landfill operations ensure non-recyclable materials are turned into biofuel pellets, and the others recycled such as the rubber for playgrounds and lead for plumbing supplies with even the wooden drum cable holders shredded for animal bedding or biomass.

 On the investment front funding has come from profits and Eland’s bank HSBC playing a key role in providing trade finance. “This supports us especially as we trade in many different currencies so we stay competitive and withstand supply chain challenges,” says Pelland who with the latest growth investment plans to open more plants. “Cables are much more than they look and replacing cables is too expensive now so we match longevity with application for our customers. Our cables make it to site on time and in optimum condition. A decade ago it was all about switchgear and airport expansions, now it is data centres.”