1984-1990
1984 – Founded in Nottinghamshire by structural engineer Michael Ellis pictured, as an underpinning and mini-piling contractor
1987 – Hoopsafe System acquired – later developed to become Smartfoot precast concrete foundation beam system
1990-2000
1990 – Van Elle purchase first large CFA rig, a Soilmec 505, growing into what is today the UK’s largest CFA fleet
1997 – Acquisition of A&G Stevenson, later known as A&G Drilling and Grouting, starting the Group’s ground stabilisation operations, now employing over 40 personnel across a fleet of 10 rigs
1999 – Head office moved to Kirkby Lane, Pinxton
2000-2010
2003 – Staff numbers exceed 250 and the company achieves a £21m turnover
2003 – Management buyout with a proportion of the company bought by Senior Directors
2003 – Van Elle Geotechnical Services formed to focus on ground investigation and pile testing, which later became Strata Geotechnics
2003 – First precast concrete factory opened in Nottinghamshire to manufacture Smartfoot foundation beams
2004 –Piling works begin on the first international project, installing CFA piles on the Eden Project in County Cork, Ireland
2005 – First overseas project in a recycled plant in Holland, where a Soilmec 505 was converted to drive thick wall casings to 27m. The machine was lowered into a 12m pit by a 200-tonne crane.
2006 – Van Elle transport established, today a fleet of 20 specialist HGV’s
2007 – Redevelopment of our Pinxton office more than doubles space for staff
2008 – First major Smart Motorway scheme completed for MVM JV on the M1 J25-26
2010-2015
2012 – Formation of Van Elle Rail and first Colmar road-rail vehicle (RRV) acquired. Today the Group has 20 RRV’s dedicated to piling and foundation activities
2013 – Van Elle purchases its first large Rotary Piling rig, the Soilmec R625
2013 – First company in the UK to achieve POS Licence (Plant Operator Scheme) for Network Rail
2013 – Van Elle undertakes it’s first international project in the Falklands (pictured)
2014 – Acquired current HQ site in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, allowing expansion of precast concrete production and plant facilities
2015-2020
2016 – Owner Michael Ellis retires from the company after 32 years
2016 – Floated as public company on the London Stock Exchange and listed on AIM
2016 – Van Elle purchased its first Llamada P160, which goes on to install the deepest CFA piles (up to 35-metres) – without a Kelly-bar – in a single stroke
2017 – Obtained a Network Rail Principal Contractor’s Licence (PCL) to operate as a tier one supplier
2017 – New construction training centre in Kirkby opened by Jeremy Corbyn (pictured).
2018 – Staff numbers exceed 500 and turnover exceeds £100m. Mark Cutler joined as Chief Executive
2019 – Launched specialist Ground Improvement team focussed on vibro stone columns and rigid inclusion techniques
2019 – All office facilities co-located to Kirkby-in-Ashfield
2020-Present
2020 – Completion of the Midland Mainline electrification programme after construction of over 2500 on-track foundations
2020 – Strata Geotechnics awarded a position on Highways England’s national ground investigation framework
2020 – Graeme Campbell joins as Chief Financial Officer and Frank Nelson as Chairman
2020 – Company founder Michael Ellis passes away
2021 – Van Elle undertakes the UK’s deepest CFA piles at Canary Wharf, London (pictured)
2021 – Van Elle acquires ScrewFast Foundations Ltd and awarded a primary partner role on National Highways’ Smart Motorway Alliance programme
2021- Reston station for Bam Nuttall in the Scottish Borders becomes Van Elle’s 200th rail station project
2023 – Van Elle acquires Rock & Alluvium providing the Group with an established presence in the South East