Our History
1987
Andy and his family grew up in a detached house called Cairn Cross in Hythe, Southampton, which was later renamed Cairns. While the origins of the house name remain a mystery, Andy felt it perfectly suited the branding for his family business.
In our early years, we worked primarily in the north of England on small civil engineering projects, including tunnels, headings, and concrete works, with a particular expertise in all forms of shuttering and joinery.
These initial projects led to opportunities on line-side structures for British Rail during its transition to Network Rail. With each project, our experience in the rail sector grew, helping us discover both our passion and our niche in civil engineering.
The 90's
During the early 1990s, the company undertook a range of projects primarily in the North of England, including tunnel-related works such as headings and shafts. We also delivered several line-side structures for Network Rail, incorporating concrete bases and security fencing.
In 1995, the business was incorporated as a limited company and rebranded as Cairn Cross Civil Engineering Ltd. Around this time, we became an approved supplier of the Wolfin Bridge deck waterproofing system, delivering numerous bridge deck waterproofing projects, including works on London Underground bridges.
By 1998, Cairn Cross Civil Engineering Ltd had grown steadily, with Ian Bald, Andy’s brother and our current Technical Director, joining the team. We expanded our scope to deliver concrete works for Tier 1 contractors, including retaining walls and other concrete structures, further establishing our reputation in the civil engineering sector.
2000
In 2000 we kicked off the new millennium by gaining our (Formally Linked Up) RISQS-qualified accreditation. This was a momentous achievement for such a small business at the time.
In the early 2000s, our civil engineering skills diversified towards bridge structures, where we undertook several bridge replacements, enhancements, and modifications.
Notable bridge structures at the time include the Nineveh Road bridge replacement for May Gurney and the Elland Road bridge in Leeds. You can read more about our bridges and structure here.
2002
Our first significant rail depot project was an upgrade and refurbishment project for Grant Rail Frodingham Maintenance Depot in 2002. The project was upgrading safe access to the rolling stock. Since then, we’ve worked in over fifty of the UK’s rail depots.
2003
As our services began expanding nationwide, we grew our van fleet in 2003 to meet the increasing demands of our projects
2006
2006 was a busy time for GRP Walkway and TrackPan Installations. We installed our first major TrackPan walkway projects across Worcester, Fratton, Heaton, Perth, Penzance and Ashford. These projects led us to develop our own GRP walkway and drainage system with Unipart Rail, called TrackPan. The TrackPan system is engineered and designed in partnership with Unipart Rail to protect the environment from contamination caused by spillages and leaks on the rail network.
A flagship project that truly put us on the map was a project for Alstom. In 2006, Alstom required a new bogie drop, maintenance road and pit on piled foundations and shed facility to maintain the West Coast Mainline fleet at their Oxley, Wolverhampton depot. The additional 120-metre shed now has a full-length inspection pit to maintain their rolling stock.
We bought our first Volvo 14-tonne excavator for this project, which felt enormous then. We now own, maintain and operate dozens of construction plant, and we have FORS accreditation for our road transportation vehicle fleet.
2007
Cairn Cross prides itself on the numerous maintenance depot facilities we have installed. Heaten Depot saw us install our first complete NEU CET system in 2007. We have installed CET systems in over 20 locations across England, Scotland and Wales.
2008
2008 was a busy time for the business, with larger projects and our first official office space at Brooklands Court in Leeds. In 2009, we welcomed Phil Williamson, our now Managing Director, to oversee and lead our continued growth.
2009
Following Phil’s appointment, Cairn Cross successfully secured ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications in 2009, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to quality, environmental management, and health and safety.
The 2010's
In 2010, with the continuous growth of the business, new departments developed, including commercial, with Rob Lockwood, now our Commercial Director. By 2012, Lisa Ball had joined as the Design Manager, leading and delivering design consultation services.
2012
Cairn Cross worked as the Principal Contractor to complete grit blasting and add a new concrete bridge deck on the Thornhill Bridge in 2012 to comply with the new highway loading rules. The project was awarded the Linda Grant Safety Award for our high level of safety detail, including wrapping the bridge in a fast-action safety membrane to protect workers and the public.
2012
Castle Donnington saw the installation of over 3.5km of P-way rail track for a large commercial retail freight depot. Our in-house mechanical and electrical specialists then achieved our NICEIC accreditation, further enabling our in-house delivery service.
2014
In 2014, we moved to larger office premises in Morley, Leeds, in a move that seemed impossible a couple of years prior. Our first-owned dedicated premises was a huge milestone in our company’s growth. Ian recalls when we first got the keys, wondering how we would fill them. We did it very quickly!
2014
With the continued growth of turnkey and design-and-build projects, we established a sister company, Epsilon Design Engineers, to provide dedicated in-house design expertise. Now operating as an independent business under the name Hexagon Design, the team has become a real success story, delivering innovative, cutting-edge designs and leading projects nationwide
2016
In 2016, Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey, welcomed the ‘UK’s most advanced carriage wash’. Designed and built by Cairn Cross, the facility was constructed alongside an existing p-way. With careful planning, the depot was fully operational throughout without any disruption.
2020
Celebrating 25 years of trading business, we unveiled our major rebrand in 2020. With a fresh new look and dropping civil engineering from our name, our new visual identity projects us into the modern construction world. Our versatile capabilities mean we can cater to more clients and broader requirements, so a new direction and identity felt needed.
2023
This continued growth and direction were set out in a ten-year plan that was communicated to our team members at our first step change plan and presentation day in February 2023.
2023 brought new milestones as we unveiled a £5.7m maintenance hub for freight logistics operator GB Railfreight. Situated along the East Coast Mainline, the design-and-build project for the new 95-metre superstructure shed with two roads, a gantry crane, and jacking systems provides maintenance facilities for their rolling stock.
2025
2025 marks a major milestone for Cairn Cross, as we celebrate 30 years of delivering exceptional civil engineering projects. From our early beginnings in the north of England to becoming a trusted partner on rail and bespoke infrastructure projects nationwide, we have built a reputation for quality, innovation, and reliability. Over the past three decades, our dedicated team has brought countless projects to life, each reflecting our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.
As we celebrate our anniversary, we are proud of everything we have achieved and excited about the opportunities ahead. With a strong foundation, a talented team, and a passion for engineering, we look forward to shaping the next 30 years of Cairn Cross’ journey and continuing to deliver projects that make a real difference.
If you’re interested in a career in civil engineering with Cairn Cross, visit our careers page for insights, vacancies and academic opportunities.