Enable’s Lot 9 project, delivered under Network Rail’s CP7 framework, brings vital upgrades to the Kent Route. Led by our environmental team, the works focus on biodiversity, carbon reduction, and lasting community value.
HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING FOR OUR PEOPLE
HSW Advisor Birju Patel shares how we’re building a safer, more supportive workplace for everyone involved in our projects.
ENABLE ROUNDUP: PROGRESS, RECOGNITION, AND CONNECTION ACROSS THE GROUP
Showcasing the people, projects and partnerships powering our progress.
WELCOME ABOARD SAM KNIGHT JOINS ENABLE ENERGY
With deep experience in battery storage, solar, and grid connection, Sam Knight steps in as Enable’s new Business Unit Director for Energy. He brings bold vision, technical insight, and commercial focus to drive our energy division forward.
A regular review of Enable’s projects, people, and progress: how we’re shaping the infrastructure of tomorrow, today. Creating infrastructure solutions with lasting community value.
READ MORE INSIDE
INTRODUCTION & WELCOME
Shane pens the first Leadership column
I’m delighted to welcome readers to the inaugural edition of the Enable Echo! We have so much going on behind the scenes at Enable. This newsletter is intended to give our clients, followers, and stakeholders a look ‘underneath the bonnet’ of the Enable machine. In fact, I’m finding that this newsletter also serves as a useful log for me, and it’s really struck me when reading the content which follows, just how much we are achieving across our broad spectrum of brands and service offerings.
This edition holds special significance as we celebrate Enable’s 40th anniversary. As we mark this milestone, it’s only right to thank those who have supported us through thick and thin. So many staff members, past and present, have shaped our business into what it is today, and I’m equally grateful to the clients who’ve backed us along the way. We were granted a Contractors Assurance Case by Network Rail as far back as 1990, which speaks to the enduring trust we’ve built over four decades.
To everyone who has supported us through their hard work and dedication, or by choosing Enable, or BCM before that, as a trusted delivery partner: thank you. As you’ll see throughout this edition, I strongly believe the best is still to come, with exciting new partnerships and client relationships forming. We look forward to the future with more enthusiasm than ever.
We’ve taken an opportunity to spotlight one of our rail industry projects in this edition and we’ve highlighted the extensive efforts of our environment, ecology, and arboriculture teams in handling the biodiversity net gain and the habitat protection challenges our
teams have had to overcome. We are committed to delivering infrastructure solutions with lasting community value and this extends, especially in the case of this project, to protecting ecological habitats.
Our project round-up will seek to clearly outline our directions of travel. We are working hard to diversify by developing new markets and adding to our capabilities, whilst maintaining our traditional and valued customer base. In the round-up you can read about our work delivering connections to the National Grid for Network Rail and the UK Atomic Energy Authority; delivering stateof-the-art eHGV charging infrastructure as part of Gridserve’s ‘Electric Freightway’ programme; HV infrastructure renewals for the Dockland Light Railway in London and for Network Rail in Bristol; and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for West Sussex Council.
Readers will also see that we are always further developing our offerings and, in this edition, we are featuring some of the projects being delivered by Enable Logistics. We also share news about our youngest member of the Enable Group of companies, Enable Pay, our payroll service offering, and we provide an update on our journey to full NERS accreditation.
Our efforts are always underpinned and united by our ethos, which keeps us on the ‘straight and narrow’ and ensures we stay true to our mission of delivering lasting community value. This is evidenced objectively by our Planet Mark accreditation and in this edition, we share our 6th year of Award-winning results boasting an impressive £659k of Social Value during our 2024 Financial
SHANE O’HALLORAN CEO
Year. Our Social Value strategy is centred around supporting early careers and some of these efforts are expanded upon by Margarita Ziborova, our People & Performance Director.
Finally, we feature our Energy Director Sam Knight following his recent introduction to our team. Sam is extremely busy leading the delivery of our Energy projects whilst also helping to develop our future project pipeline. I hope you enjoy this publication we have put together for you.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Projects that create and enhance community value are the lifeblood of our work at Enable. For our first edition, we’ve delved into our Lot 9 project, delivered under Network Rail’s CP7 Minor Works Buildings and Civils framework, which stretches across the Kent Route—encompassing access improvements, boundary fencing, and vital vegetation management. Beyond the infrastructure, this project stands out for its robust commitment to environmental stewardship and biodiversity protection.
ECOLOGY AT THE CORE OF LOT 9
SAFEGUARDING NATURE, SITE BY SITE
Works on our Lot 9 Project, a 10-year contract delivered under Network Rail’s CP7 Minor Works Buildings and Civils framework, demonstrate the strength of Enable’s environmental ethos. Lot 9 focuses on planned and reactive maintenance of off-track civils across the Kent area, featuring fencing and drainage improvements, vegetation management, and access route enhancements. Guided by our mission to create enduring, environmentally friendly infrastructure, rigorous environmental risk and opportunity assessments have been crucial both to the planning of the project and its ongoing fulfilment. This process highlighted key focus areas that continue to shape our approach: ecology, waste, noise, energy & carbon.
Our ecological compliance strategy for Lot 9 started with a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA), ensuring all works would proceed with utmost care and respect for the surrounding environment. These surveys highlighted the potential presence of hazel dormice, bats, nesting birds, and badger setts. The findings shaped our delivery approach to include restricting work during summer, scaling back activity in sensitive areas, and requiring pre-work checks by a suitably qualified Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW).
With deep expertise in managing these complex ecological requirements, we continue to lead with confidence on Lot 9. The appointment of a new
Arboriculture & Ecology Manager to the HSQE team reflects our ongoing commitment to environmental excellence, further strengthening our technical leadership and enhancing oversight of ecology subcontractors.
NOISE, CARBON & WASTE: MITIGATION IN ACTION
All of our railway possession works are carried out under Section 61 consents, keeping noise in check and ensuring residents are informed well ahead of any disruption.
To reduce carbon emissions, all Road Rail Vehicles (RRVs) and welfare units used by us run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a low-emission diesel alternative that cuts CO₂ output by up to 90%.
Battery backup systems further reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
On the waste front, Enable is exceeding its 95% diversion-from-landfill target. Wood chippings and logs from vegetation clearance are shared with local farmers and allotments to enrich soil or are retained on-site to support biodiversity. Remaining material is recycled or converted into biomass fuel. To date, tens of thousands of meters of line have been surveyed, with thousands of meters of fencing installed, and vegetation management continues to progress in line with ecological and environmental best practice.
As Olubukola Olose, Enable Environmental and Sustainability Manager, put it: “The Lot 9 project
presents considerable environmental challenges, but Enable is committed not only to compliance, but to delivering above and beyond — protecting habitats, reducing impact, and improving outcomes wherever we can.”
Whether you’re in the early stages of planning or facing complex environmental constraints mid-project, our team can help you navigate ecological risk, unlock opportunities, and deliver with confidence. If you’re looking for a partner who combines technical rigour with practical, sustainable solutions, we’re ready to make your next project a success.
HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING FOR OUR PEOPLE
By Birju Patel, HSW Adviser
At Enable, the safety and wellbeing of our people - whether staff, contractors, or the public - is never an afterthought. It’s a foundational part of how we work and what we value as a business.
Our approach to health, safety, and wellbeing is built on care and accountability, not just compliance. Across every Enable project, we recognise that safe delivery starts with culture - a culture where people feel empowered, supported, and part of a team that looks out for one another. We’ve shaped our safety philosophy around four key principles:
PLANNING TO PREVENT HARM
Every incident is preventable. That’s why we prioritise early engagement, thorough risk assessment, and clear communication about Enable’s expectations before day one on site. Everyone working with or for Enable deserve to go home safe and well every day – this is non-negotiable.
WELLBEING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SAFETY
True safety goes beyond the physical. Mental health, emotional wellbeing and work-life balance are just as important. We’ve embedded wellbeing conversations into our day-to-day operations, backed by confidential support, check-ins, and flexibility where we can offer it.
BEING PRESENT & VISIBLE
Our HSQES Team spend time on site not just to review procedures, but to listen. Understanding what’s working - and what isn’t - helps us respond in real time. When people feel heard, trust grows. That’s the foundation of a strong safety culture.
SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT GO HAND IN HAND
On many projects, our teams operate in or near sensitive environments. That means safety planning isn’t limited to people - it extends to the natural world around us. We work closely with
ecological and environmental colleagues to ensure that risks are understood and managed holistically.
We’re already seeing positive outcomes. Reporting of near-misses through our “See it, Sort it, Report it” initiative continues to rise - a healthy sign that people feel confident speaking up without fear of repercussions. Feedback from teams reflects growing trust in our systems and a shared sense of responsibility on the ground.
The nature of our work often means operating in challenging, fast-moving, or remote environments. That makes it all the more important that people feel supported and protected.
For us, safety is not a fixed state - it evolves with our people, our projects, and the world around us. What remains constant is our duty of care to those delivering the work. And that’s a responsibility we take seriously - every hour of every day, on every site.
ENABLE ROUNDUP: PROGRESS,
RECOGNITION, & CONNECTION
ACROSS THE GROUP
A snapshot of recent highlights from across the Enable businesses — showcasing the people, projects, and partnerships powering our progress.
READING INDEPENDENT FEEDER NOW OPERATIONAL
Enable Power Systems and Enable Infrastructure have celebrated the commissioning of the Reading Independent Feeder, a major project delivered with Network Rail and National Grid. With a 17km high-voltage cable route and a new Auto Transformer Feeder Site at Holly Cross, the scheme boosts flexibility and resilience across the electrified rail network. From land logistics to dormouse relocations, this milestone reflects true engineering collaboration and environmental care.
CHARGING AHEAD AT NISSAN SUNDERLAND
Enable Energy Connections has successfully completed civils and installation works for a new fleet of electric eHGV chargers at Nissan’s flagship manufacturing plant in Sunderland. Delivered for our client GRIDSERVE, the project forms part of wider efforts to decarbonise logistics and support the UK’s EV infrastructure growth. From groundworks to final connections and commissioning our team ensured safe, efficient delivery in a high-profile operational environment, contributing to a growing network of hubs across the UK.
IMPROVING JOURNEYS AT BLACKWALL DLR STATION
Enable Infrastructure has successfully delivered key upgrades at Blackwall DLR station, working in close partnership with MTR and Transport for London, and building on our experience with the DLR 3-car capacity programme. The enhancements include new piling and steelwork, a second entrance, improved customer information screens, and additional validators - all aimed at improving accessibility and user experience at this vital station.
POWERING INNOVATION AT UKAEA
Enable is proud to support the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Culham Campus, where our teams are delivering major power and utility upgrades to champion the future of fusion energy research. Works include new 11kV ring mains, water and data infrastructure, and a new utility corridor - totalling over 1.7km of excavation and roadworks. This collaborative, multi-division effort is helping future-proof one of the UK’s most advanced research sites.
ENABLE ROUNDUP CONTINUED:
ENABLE JOINS IRELAND RAIL LINK EVENT
Enable Infrastructure was proud to exhibit at the Ireland Rail Link event at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium this spring. The team –including Patrick Cormican, Ashley Wills, and Martin Dansey – engaged with Irish rail stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration and sustainable growth. The event reinforced Enable’s commitment to supporting Ireland’s evolving transport infrastructure with specialist expertise and insight.
ENABLE’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
This month we celebrated our 40th anniversary as a business! A huge milestone we’re very proud of. From our origins as BCM in 1985, focused on rail and transport construction and engineering, to becoming Enable, a full-spectrum infrastructure services group, our journey has been defined by evolution, expertise, and the trust our clients place in us.
Four decades of progress. Hundreds of projects delivered. One enduring commitment: creating infrastructure solutions with lasting community value. To our clients, partners, and the talented, hardworking people who make Enable what it is today - a Team of Teams - thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to the next 40 years of building legacies that matter.
PROGRESS IN LONDON & BRISTOL
Enable Power Systems has successfully commissioned VMX switchgear at Royal Mint Street Substation, boosting reliability and safety for Docklands Light Railway. The complex upgrade included SCADA integration, HV cable testing, and seamless collaboration with London Underground — all delivered without service disruption.
Meanwhile, in the west, the team has commissioned the first of six new substations at Bristol Temple Meads as part of a major Network Rail programme. Substations G ,B,L,F and K are now operational, with work progressing on Substations J and D, supported by teams across Enable.
ENABLE ROUNDUP CONTINUED:
NERS ACCREDITATION SECURED BY ENABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Our Power Systems team within Enable Infrastructure were delighted to receive NERS accreditation from LRQA, covering our ability to deliver on civil and electrical works up to 132kV. This milestone demonstrates our consistent focus on safety, quality, and compliance — and opens the door to broader capabilities in the electricity and utilities sectors. A huge thank you to the teams at Culham and beyond for their commitment throughout the process. The next step will be 33kV jointing and cabling this Autumn on our Halewick Lane project, also followed by a 66kV and various 132kV projects due to start in 2026.
We also have exciting developments under way across the group. Here’s a glimpse of what’s next:
HALEWICK BESS SITE VISIT
A cross-functional Enable team, including specialists from Enable Energy Connections, Enable Design, and HSQE, recently visited the Halewick Battery Energy Storage System site in partnership with West Sussex Council. Early-stage engagement is already shaping the way forward for this important energy project and we are mobilising on-site end of November.
PLANETMARK - 6 YEARS CERTIFIED
Enable has officially achieved PlanetMark certification for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to measuring and reducing carbon emissions across our operations, with results to match: we delivered £659k of Social Value and achieved 43.1% Reduction in Direct Emissions (Scope 1 & 2). A huge achievement driven by strategic initiatives like adopting HVO fuel, using hybrid/ solar-powered welfare cabins, and switching our offices to renewable energy. We also reached a 97.3% Data Quality Score, a significant leap from last year’s 50%, giving us a crystal-clear understanding of our entire carbon footprint.
ENABLE PAY GOES LIVE
We’re pleased to announce the launch of Enable Pay, a new payroll and workforce management solution developed in partnership with Enable Resourcing. Designed for flexibility, transparency, and compliance, Enable Pay streamlines administration for both our people and our clients.
SOCIAL VALUE & COMMUNITY
SUPPORTING FUTURES: FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE WORKSITE
A social value and people development update from Margarita Ziborova, People and Performance Director.
This summer marks one year since we began using Enable’s Employee Experience Framework as a compass for guiding our culture and investing in our people. Within the themes of Fulfilled and Developed that are two cornerstones of our framework, we’re proud to share two stories that show what it looks like when we turn commitment into action.
FULFILLED: OPENING DOORS THROUGH T-LEVEL PLACEMENTS
Social value is more than a priority — it’s a principle. That’s why Enable continues to invest in real-world experiences for young
people preparing to enter the world of work. Five years ago, we joined the Mayor of London-funded Careers Hub, which connects employers with over 200 schools across the capital. Since then, we’ve built a lasting partnership with St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College, participating in careers events, mentoring, and work experience.
Last year, we welcomed three T-Level students into our team as part of a twoyear placement — offering them one day a week in a real industry environment to build confidence and skills.
“We have a responsibility to help prepare young people for their future,” says Ash Patel, Head of IT. “These placements combine hands-on work with mentorship, laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s talent.”
And the students agree: “Enable has given me the opportunity to get used to real IT tasks and responsibilities,” says Milosz Urbanski.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ENABLE HAS BEEN PURPOSEFUL, PROFESSIONAL & PRODUCTIVE. STUDENTS RETURN WITH IMPROVED TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILLS
“It’s been a motivating and insightful experience,” adds Allan Hines.
According to Art Salihu, Industrial Placement Coordinator at St Charles:
“Our partnership with Enable has been purposeful, professional and productive. Students return with improved technical and soft skills — a clear sign they’re ready for what’s next.”
Following this success, we’re preparing to welcome two more T-Level students in Engineering this September, from Waterfront UTC, as part of our continued investment in future talent.
In June, we launched the refreshed version of Supervision Transformed — a leadership and safety programme developed by Enable, designed to support and grow our current and future site leaders.
Supervision Transformed is a bespoke, in-house course tailored to strengthen team management, deepen accountability, and sharpen on-site communication. Module 1 is now complete, with two more to go — and our first cohort has set a high bar with their energy, ideas, and openness.
“We covered the core of site leadership: from team dynamics and toolbox talks to our accountability model and influence zones,” says Margarita. “It’s been incredibly encouraging to see how engaged and insightful the group has been.”
This isn’t just a training programme — it’s a foundation for longterm development. Supervision Transformed is already proving instrumental in preparing emerging leaders from across our business, including Enable Resourcing and apprenticeships, for greater responsibility.
Once fully rolled out, Enable plans to offer Supervision Transformed to clients and supply chain partners — providing a forward-thinking, practical model for developing strong, capable site leadership and raising the bar for quality, safety, and people development across the industry.
TEAMS UPDATE
A first-hand look at how practical collaboration evolved into seamless site support.
CASE IN POINT
At Brixton Station Enable Logistics supported night works for Taziker and Southern Renewals Enterprise, providing full welfare, labour, tools and transport—delivered and cleared each night between 22:00 and 06:00 for five weeks straight.
“Enable Logistics just gets it done—quickly, quietly, and without fuss,” said one senior site manager.
Enable Logistics wasn’t born from a strategy deck, it came from real conversations on real sites, often over a hot beverage, where the same challenges kept coming up.
“It actually started over a coffee with Lampis,” recalls Peter Milnes, General Manager of Enable Hire. “We kept noticing our teams were solving the same site-level issues for the same client — just from different angles.”
Peter and Lampis Binakou, General Manager of Enable Resourcing, soon realised these weren’t isolated incidents. Clients were constantly chasing separate suppliers for labour, tools, welfare, and plant — often under pressure and against the clock.
“One client had operatives on-site but no lighting or welfare,” says Lampis. “Another was scrambling for barriers and waste collection. That’s when we joined the dots — we were already solving these problems, just not in a joined-up way.”
“So we built Enable Logistics,” Peter adds. “One team to manage all the moving parts that keep a site running smoothly, safely, and without the stress.”
BEHIND EVERY SMOOTH SITE: ENABLE LOGISTICS
From night works at Brixton Station to complex EV rollouts, Enable Logistics is the team behind the scenes keeping things moving quietly, reliably, and without fuss.
Born from the collaboration between Enable Hire and Enable Resourcing, Enable Logistics provides essential site services with speed, consistency, and a single point of contact. It’s more than a menu of support - it’s a dedicated partner that understands how your site works and what it takes to keep it on track.
“We take care of the gritty jobs no one thinks about, until the job is finished,” says Peter.
Whether it’s welfare, labour, plant, or tools, Enable Logistics delivers across high-risk, fast-moving environments including rail, civils, highways, and energy.
WHAT WE OFFER:
■ Welfare and plant hire – including towable, hybrid, and HVO-ready units
■ Labour supply – safety-critical, compliant, and rail-certified
■ Tools and equipment – including sustainable alternatives
■ Site security – manned guarding, CCTV, access control
■ Power and utilities – water, waste, and off-mains setups
■ Transport and marshalling – haulage, material movement, logistics planning
■ Site setup and cleaning – signage, fencing, handover readiness
COLLEAGUE FOCUS
Welcome from Sam Knight Business Unit Director, Energy
It’s a real pleasure to introduce myself as the new Business Unit Director for Energy at Enable Infrastructure.
With over a decade of hands-on experience delivering renewable infrastructure across the UK — including major battery storage, solar, cable route and grid connection projects — I joined Enable with one clear focus: to build a scalable, profitable, and future-ready energy division that delivers value for both our clients and the wider business.
In recent years, I’ve led projects such as the 350MW Uskmouth BESS, the 400MW Cleeve Hill solar park, and numerous complex DNO/ICP interfaces. My career has spanned both contractor and developer sides of the industry, giving me the commercial acumen and technical awareness needed to navigate risk, unlock projects, and drive practical, commercially viable delivery strategies.
The timing couldn’t be more important. The UK is forecast to require over 50GW of battery storage by 2050, with 4GW of grid-scale projects already in the pipeline.
The shift to decarbonised transport, heat, and grid services is accelerating fast — and infrastructure delivery is now the bottleneck. Enable is in a prime position to help close that gap, not just as a contractor, but as a strategic partner to our clients.
We’ll be focusing on:
■ BATTERY STORAGE - from standalone grid-connected BESS to co-located solar and hybrid systems
■ GRID CONNECTIONS - Enable Infrastructure operates as a NERS-accredited Independent Connection Provider (ICP), delivering grid connections at LV, HV, and EHV levels. Our in-house expertise spans design, contestable and noncontestable works, and end-to-end DNO liaison, enabling faster, more flexible, and cost-efficient connections across the UK.
■ EV INFRASTRUCTURE - both private networks and highvolume public hubs
■ SOLAR & MICROGRID DELIVERY - including LV/HV integration, SCADA and controls
■ FLEXIBLE GRID SUPPORT - solutions that help clients meet DSO/NGESO flexibility requirements
My role is to bring discipline and energy to our pipeline — making sure that every opportunity we pursue has commercial clarity, technical depth, and a strong delivery model behind it. That includes building out our internal delivery capability, deepening supply chain relationships, and ensuring we deliver consistent margin and cashflow alongside innovation and sustainability.
For clients and partners: expect transparency, pace, and an approach that blends engineering practicality with commercial realism. I’m always happy to explore ways we can add value — whether through smart sequencing, VE options, or navigating regulatory complexity.
Internally, I’m proud to join a team that’s clearly ready to step up and lead. I’ve already seen the quality, drive, and collaboration here — and I’m excited to help shape that into a business unit that becomes known across the industry.
(And yes — I’ll be the one slipping renewable energy jokes into meetings. “What did the battery say to the solar panel? I’m shocked etc etc.”)
Thanks to everyone who’s already made me feel so welcome. I look forward to working with many more of you in the coming months — both across Enable and with clients old and new. The market is moving fast — and so are we.
If you’re planning an energy project — whether it’s battery storage, EV infrastructure, grid connection or microgrid delivery — and are looking for a team that combines deep expertise with practical delivery, we’d love to hear from you. Enable Energy Connections is here to support you with clarity, capability and care — helping you take the next step with confidence.
UPCOMING EVENTS
BLOOM ENERGY – SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL
We are planning to host an information evening early next year at our London Office (and online), featuring amazing fuel cell technology from Bloom Energy. If you are struggling with grid connectivity, or grid power resilience, and you’d like to learn about this off-electricity-grid power solution, then keep an eye on our socials for details of the information evening. We look forward to hosting a fascinating information exchange with opportunities for Q&A with our friends from Bloom Energy.
STAY CONNECTED
COMING UP IN THE NEXT EDITION
■ Advances made at Halewick as we break ground on this pioneering project
■ Further progress with the Electric Freightway at sites in Manchester, Tamworth and Enfield.
■ Updates on our exciting work north of the border as we open our Glasgow office.
Want to stay ahead of the latest developments in infrastructure and electrification? Download our Power Capabilities document or contact us for a consultation tailored to your individual needs.
