Mowlem was one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the
United Kingdom.
Carillion bought the firm in 2006.
History
The firm was founded by
John Mowlem in 1822, and was continued as a partnership by successive generations of the Mowlem and Burt families, including
George Burt, and Sir
John Mowlem Burt.[1]
A long-standing national contractor, Mowlem developed a network of regional contracting businesses including
Rattee and Kett of Cambridge (bought in 1926); E. Thomas of the west country (bought in 1965) and the formation of a northern region based in
Leeds in 1970.[4] The network was further augmented by the acquisition of Ernest Ireland of
Bath (bought in 1977),[5] and the acquisition of McTay Engineering of
Bromborough, together with its shipbuilding subsidiary
McTay Marine (also bought in the late 1970s).[6]
In 1971 the company expanded overseas purchasing a 40% shareholding in an Australian contractor,
Barclay Brothers, and later taking 100% ownership. The Australian business, re-branded Barclay Mowlem, expanded into all other Australian mainland states, except
South Australia, and into Asia.[7]
Mowlem acquired SGB Group, a supplier of scaffolding, in 1986.[8] Mowlem also bought Unit Construction in 1986, giving the firm a substantial presence in private housebuilding - within two years, sales were up to an annual rate of 1,200. The ensuing recession led to losses of over £180m between 1991 and 1993 and banking covenants came under pressure. The housing division was sold to
Beazer in 1994.[9]
Mowlem was bought by
Carillion in February 2006.[10]
Major projects
Major projects undertaken by or involving Mowlem included: