IES Utilities Group is delighted to announce our successful appointment to National Gas’ newly launched Customer Construction & Minor Works Framework.
Under this four-year framework, we will deliver a broad scope of civil engineering, pipeline, and mechanical and electrical works across England and Wales. This significant award builds upon the strong relationship we’ve developed with National Gas over the past three years and underscores our unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and performance.
“We’re so proud to have secured a position on this National framework,” said Ged Shannon, Managing Director at IES Utilities Group.
“This achievement reflects our team’s consistent efforts to deliver high-quality solutions for our customers and our focus on driving sustainable infrastructure forward. We look forward to continuing our partnership with National Gas and supporting the strength and resilience of their network.”
This appointment marks a key milestone in our continued growth and reinforces our mission to provide innovative, sustainable utility services throughout the UK.
IES Utilities Group has successfully introduced an innovative pipe cleaning solution to the UK water sector, delivering results that have been described by the client as having “exceeded expectations.”
As part of a recent pilot project in collaboration with Northumbrian Water, IES deployed the Comprex® Impulse Cleaning technology on a 12-inch (300mm) cement-lined cast iron main laid in 1922. The pipe, located in Honey Hill, had been taken out of supply due to high levels of internal sediment and mineral deposits, posing a significant risk of discolouration.
Despite the scale of the challenge, IES cleaned and recharged the 2,000-metre section of the main in less than a day, achieving a compliant turbidity level of 2.2 NTU—at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of traditional techniques.
Efficient, Sustainable, and Safe
Exclusively offered in the UK by IES, the Comprex® method combines air and water pulses to safely and effectively clean pipework without the use of chemicals or high-pressure systems. Key benefits include:
• Minimal water usage—less than 10% of that required for conventional flushing
• Extremely low waste output, usually manageable on-site
• Superior deposit removal with air and water pulses at high shear velocities (20 m/s)
• No risk of over-pressurisation—cleaning pressures are set below mains operating pressure
• Chemical-free, using only medical-grade air and potable water
• Quiet operation with low noise levels
• DWI-approved, ensuring safety and compliance
• Versatility across pipe types and sizes (from 50mm to 1200mm diameter)
How It Works
Comprex® replaces the water in the pipeline with compressed air at equal pressure to prevent ingress. Controlled air and water pulses are then introduced, gradually increasing in frequency and force. The process efficiently removes soft materials like biofilms and sediments first, followed by harder deposits—restoring turbidity to compliant levels in a short time frame.
Sampling and Results
Water quality samples were taken every 10 minutes by independent experts, showing clear evidence of staged cleaning progress. Initial turbidity spikes consisted mainly of biofilms and sediment, followed by samples rich in metals—proof of deeper layer removal.
A Promising Future
The pilot has been hailed as a success, with the client preparing a business case for wider deployment across a 6 to 12-month programme. The solution is expected to reduce the risk of water quality incidents and improve efficiency in strategic, distribution, and treatment assets. Additionally, it offers significant support in achieving lower Compliance Risk Index (CRI) scores.
See the technology in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2bQbQntNXs
IES Utilities Group is proud to announce its successful appointment to Wessex Water’s newly established Civils Support Framework, selected to support the delivery of vital civils, water and wastewater infrastructure works across the Wessex Water region for the duration of the AMP8 period and beyond.
“We are thrilled to have been awarded a place on Wessex Water’s Civils Support Framework,” said Ged Shannon, MD at IES Utilities Group. “This opportunity reflects our team’s dedication to delivering high-quality utility services and our commitment to supporting sustainable infrastructures. We’re excited to work alongside Wessex Water and contribute to the continued resilience and reliability of their network.”
The framework covers a comprehensive range of works, including:
• Site works, general civils, and groundworks support
• Delivery of new water mains and trenchless installations such as pipe bursting and slip lining
• Potable water infrastructure, including repairs, meter and valve installations, boundary boxes, and other clean water assets
• Wastewater infrastructure, from emergency and planned works on sewers, manholes, and rising mains to tidal flap repairs
The appointment to this framework marks a significant milestone for IES Utilities Group as it continues to expand its presence in the utility infrastructure sector, bringing its deep expertise across water, energy, and telecoms into new collaborative partnerships.
“A Manchester-based utilities and infrastructure service provider with strong ties to counties Mayo and Sligo recently had teams on the ground in the west of Ireland assisting the ESB with its response to Storm Éowyn.
IES Utilities Group was called upon to provide a rapid and skilled response to the destruction caused by Storm Darragh before Christmas and then Storm Éowyn in January. On the day after the storm on January 24, more than 750,000 homes and businesses were without power across the country.
In the aftermath of Éowyn, IES Utilities has had over 160 overhead linesmen and women deployed across north Wales, Scotland and England restoring electricity networks after critical infrastructure suffered from extensive damage. The company was eager to send teams to help the ESB in Ireland after seeing first-hand the challenges and destruction caused by the storm.
The firm has strong ties to the west of Ireland. Managing director Ged Shannon’s family is from Belmullet and group finance manager Mary McDonagh hails from Attymass. They were exceptionally proud to be helping the community in their native county.
CEO Brendan Flynn’s family is from Sligo and he said that he was proud of the work IES carried out in the West of Ireland over the past few weeks.
“When the call came we were more than happy to send our teams to provide help and given that we were helping in the west of Ireland, it was an added bonus,” he said.
Many members of the team were taken by the friendly welcome they received in local communities. One group took the time to assist the local community in Castlebar to clear debris caused by Storm Éowyn.
At another location in Mayo, a team met a 90-year-old man who was keeping himself warm in his car. When the team heard of this, upon reconnecting the area to the main supply, they returned to this customer’s property to ensure that his sockets and heating were powered as well.
“I am proud that the team has stepped up and were able to not only repair the power lines but also found the time to help the local communities they visited,” said Mr Flynn.
Originally, the company’s teams were deployed in Donegal and restored over 9,000 customers in the first days of their deployment. They then worked in Silgo, and finally in Mayo, where they restored over 20,000 customers.
Team leader Mark Barton said there was a vast amount of seemingly irreparable damage.
“There were electricity poles snapped in half, hanging off powerlines, poles in rivers, and large trees that blocked busy roads,” he said.
“We utilised tracked machinery and access equipment and were able to clear the dangerous defects and rebuild the powerlines.”
On February 12, after 14 days of providing support since the initial call to action, the crews from IES Utilities were officially stood down and sent back to England. IES Utilities were commended on their effort and hard work in supporting the wider restoration works for ESB Networks.”
Special thanks to Paul O’Malley for this story.
At the beginning of December, Storm Darragh battered the UK with wind and rain, with the met office issuing a red weather warning in parts of North Wales (Meaning potentially life-threatening weather is expected)
The teams at IES showed incredible skill and determination in order to get homes and businesses across the SP Energy Networks region of North Wales reconnected to the national grid.
At one-point, IES had over 200 Overhead line workers working day and night in order to help serve communities across North Wales.
Three IES Employees in particular received praise from SPEN for going above and beyond their duties in order to help serve the community. After coming across an elderly resident who had been cut off for a number of days, our team had her home reconnected to power. But not before ensuring “she was warming up and that she had a warm cup of tea and something to eat.” Furthermore, they later returned with a box of chocolates and flowers for the lady, completely at their own expense. These employees went above and beyond the call of duty to help ensure residents began to feel comfortable in their own home again after the events of storm Darragh.
IES would like to take the time to thank every employee who worked tirelessly with us throughout storm Darragh.
Last week was IES’s annual back to work safety stand down after the Christmas break. All operatives are required to attend workshops in order to help refresh on contract specific HSEQ policies and procedures.
Our annual safety stand down presentations are designed to reinforce IES’s safety-first culture and help create a safer working environment for all stakeholders.
The presentations also have sections dedicated for question and answers to help engage operatives. They allow for a dedicated time where anyone can raise issues concerning any aspect relating to HSEQ.
They are an essential opportunity to reflect on any incidents that may have occurred throughout the year. Not only do they give operatives the chance to reflect on past experiences, but they can help demonstrate what can be done to mitigate risks in the future creating a safer work environment for all involved.
We would like to thank all attendees for continuing to help reinforce our safety-first culture.
As of December 2024, IES have recruited over 100 highly skilled overhead lines workers from Southern Africa.
The company are excited to announce that we are still looking at recruiting an additional 500 workers across multiple electrical disciplines from South Africa and Zimbabwe over the next 12 months.
Working with our partners from these countries is allowing IES to experience growth at an unprecedented rate.
The benefits of hiring from these countries are that their infrastructure is already similar to that of the UK, as well as the majority of the workforce already speaking English to a good standard.
IES also provide further training to recruited employees ensuring that workers are aware of the specific standards & requirements for our various electrical work contracts.
The benefits of this were recently demonstrated after the events of storm Darragh where our teams worked around the clock to ensure houses were promptly reconnected to the national grid.
Article also available in the Pipeline Industries Guild October 2024 newsletter.
TWO MAJOR UK water companies have recently trialled an innovative pipe cleaning method developed by clean pipe experts Comprex and implemented by IES Utilities. This technique, which has been widely used in Europe for more than 25 years, offers a promising solution to maintenance challenges.
Impulse Cleaning uses computer-programmed pulses of medical-grade air, combined with a small amount of water flow, to create high-velocity waves that dislodge various types of build up in pipes.
The process is effective for pipes ranging from 25mm to 1200mm in diameter, covering most of the UK’s water distribution network. The technique involves minimal service disruption, requires no excavation (pipes are accessed through existing hydrants) and uses just 20% of the water compared to conventional techniques.
For more information about trial demonstrations & general information, please contact IES via info@integralenergysolutions.co.uk or the contact form on our website.
IES Utilities Group are thrilled to announce that we have secured a significant contract with Northumbrian Water and is proud to be selected as one of the key partners tasked with delivering the groundbreaking £3.6bn AMP8 capital investment program. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team at IES Utilities.
Ged Shannon, our Managing Director, said “We are delighted to be awarded a role within the prestigious Northumbrian Water Group on AMP8 framework. We are look forward to working Northumbrian Water and our esteemed partners.”
As one of the select partners, we are eager to bring our unique strengths and capabilities to the table, working in synergy with Northumbrian Water Group and their partner network to drive innovation and create sustainable solutions within the AMP8 programme.
The IES Overhead Line team had a particularly busy end to the week, providing invaluable support to our client, UK Power Networks (UKPN), as they managed the aftermath of Storm Ciaran.
The storm, which swept across the South-East region, caused widespread disruption, with fierce winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding.
Buildings were damaged, trees were uprooted, and many customers experienced power outages. In response, our dedicated teams were quickly mobilised and deployed across the South-East, with more than 30 skilled operatives attending various sites to carry out essential storm response work.
Their efforts were crucial in restoring power to homes and businesses, ensuring that communities had their lights and power back on just in time for the weekend and helping to minimise the impact of the storm in affected areas.
We would like to thank all IES employees involved reconnecting customers back to the National Grid.
To talk to our project management team call 0161 791 1496
or email info@iesutilities.co.uk