Our beginnings
Moortown Group Limited was launched by Thomas McManus and took its name from the Leeds suburb where its founder lived. Initially set up to provide reliable civil engineering services to a select list of major contractors, it operated with just a handful of employees.
After two years, the company boasted more than 50 employees and the rapid expansion saw it move into new office space in Ferrybridge, just off the A1 in Yorkshire and close to the iconic power station.
In that same year, the Moortown Group established its own fleet of modern plant and vehicles. This has grown to include excavators, breakers, cranes, dumpers, compressors, formwork systems, generators and transport, as well as specialist pipe jacking and pipe laying equipment.
Naturally, after establishing an ever growing fleet, The Board was strengthened by the appointment of Dean Moxon who became responsible for the management of all procurement and Plant.
On its 10th anniversary, the company’s growing needs saw it move again. The office on the Euroway Trading Estate in Bradford, where it is still based, allowed for a major expansion that enabled the onsite storage and maintenance of its plant fleet.
A gap in the market for a centrally located supplier of shuttering systems saw the launch of Leeds Acro. Providing temporary works solutions, the company quickly built a reputation for quality service and workmanship.
With the Moortown Group using large volumes of macadam surfacing, instead of continuing to subcontract, it decided to launch its own surfacing arm. Excel Surfacing works with internal and external clients, delivering the same high-quality finish to both.
With the Moortown Group’s projects spread across an increasingly wide geographical area, the company decided it would benefit from a permanent presence in the south of England. The Borehamwood office, which lies within the London commuter belt, has ensured a greater profile for the company in this key area.
The Moortown Group secured a landmark contract as part of the new £80m Pontefract Hospital in West Yorkshire. Worth £8.3m, the company carried out major bulk excavation on the site, installed pad foundations and drainage networks and were responsible for the hospital’s car parks and hard landscaped areas.
The same year saw another flagship project for Moortown.
The family firm wrote another chapter in its already impressive history when Aiden McManus, son of Moortown Group’s original founder Thomas McManus, took over from his father to become the company’s new managing director.
The Moortown Group won a prestigious £6.8m contract to work on the new West Yorkshire Police headquarters in Leeds. Requiring a fast-paced programme of delivery, the firm proved its flexibility and skill by ensuring external works could continue whilst the reinforced, multi-storey concrete frame was being constructed.
To mark the company’s 15th anniversary, the Moortown Group launched a new logo as part of a brand refresh which reflected its modern forward-thinking approach.
The £275m Broadway Shopping Centre in Bradford was a cornerstone development for a city looking to reinvent its retail offer. The Moortown Group was chosen to execute a £13.2m contract, which included bulk excavation, foundations and pile caps groundworks, as part of this high-profile project helping to transform the city centre.
An experienced quantity surveyer, and cousin to Aiden, Glen McManus was chosen to head up Moortown Group’s Borehamwood operation. His strong leadership has proved a key asset to the company and the ongoing development of its south of England base.
In a bid to be less reliant on outside contractors, Moortown Group invested in its own tower cranes. This key purchase has been central to the ever-growing RC side of the business.
Always looking to benefit from the latest kit, Moortown Group introduced of a 42m Putzmeister mobile concrete pump to its plant fleet, which has proved to be of great benefit to the team on the ground.
Purchase of land for a new Leeds Acro site, located only a five minute walk away from our Moortown offices. The investment was to help develop and drive the business further, providing a huge yard space for a large washout area, warehouse, offices and a place for all formwork systems and kit to be stored.
The investment continued the following year with this impressive bit of kit. The Sennebogen 673R Telescopic Crawler Crane, which uses a telescopic boom, enables work to go ahead even in the most limited of spaces and this had been a great addition to the fleet.
Moortown Group was awarded a £9m contract to help transform the former Yorkshire Post site in Leeds into the home of a new residential apartment block. At 18-storeys it is the highest building ever completed by the company and this landmark development is a striking addition to the city’s skyline.
Delighted to celebrate 25 years in the industry with all of our workforce.
Our future
At the Moortown Group we take pride in everything we do and believe in making a positive difference wherever we go. Our main focus as we move forward is to continue to be resilient against the ever-changing economic landscape, nurture close partnerships with our clients and supply chain and support the fantastic team of people who work throughout our business.
Our responsibilities
Environment
During construction, we are committed to protect the environment during its entire construction works. When sourcing materials consideration is always given to selection and use of local resources wherever possible. We have Management Systems in place to ensure the avoidance of pollution, allow recycling of surplus materials and the protection of trees and vegetation. Particular attention is paid to waste management surplus materials are not allowed to accumulate on the site or spill over onto the surrounding environment and dust from construction operations shall be kept to a minimum. We endeavour only to use environmentally friendly materials and to ensure that any timber products are procured from sustainable forests. Environmental Protection forms an integral part of planning and procurement methods in undertaking construction projects. Click here to read more.
Community
We believe it’s very important to involve ourselves in the local community in a positive way and keep the residents fully informed of the work we are carrying out that may affect their homes and impact their day to day lives. All work is carried out with careful consideration to the needs of the traders, businesses, shoppers, general public and site personnel including visitors. We support the use of local labour wherever feasible. In order to address skills shortages within the industry, we aim to show our commitment to being involved in local Main Contractor Lead initiatives that will maximise the opportunity that a major construction project provides for the local community, both in terms of employment and training. Click here to read more.
Our Partners
Our supply chain is well-established. The quality of these long-standing relationships means our clients benefit from a truly collaborative approach across all aspects of a project. Our commitment to delivering both quality and value is reflected in the companies we choose to work with and each one shares our vision for success.