Capability brochure 2025 by storycontracting

Capability Overview

Why Story?

Story Contracting is a privately-owned, award-winning infrastructure company. We are financially secure and agile with a wide range of public, private and third sector clients who enjoy working with our talented and committed team. Our track record for delivery on time and to budget, safely and reliably, has meant repeat business from our clients, which is reflected in our motto of ‘Do It Right!’

Our values are at the heart of everything we do - the way we work, the behaviours we display and our recruitment campaigns, and we believe that these are what make Story Contracting and our people exceptional.

Grounded- Everyone is equal at Story. We are down to Earth, we treat each other with respect, we recognise that everyone plays an important part in our business. Our senior leaders are accessible, and we don’t tolerate egos. We are all in it together.

Hardworking- We all pull our weight and work hard for each other. We go the extra mile for our clients and the communities we work in. We learn from our mistakes and use our initiative. We work smart to exceed our clients’ expectations on every project.

Proud- We are proud of our people, our projects, our clients and the success we create together. We are proud of our values and who we are and our commitment to safety, the environment and our communities.

Family- We nurture, train, develop and keep our people safe. We support each other, we are inclusive, and we work as one without barriers or silo working. We do the right thing for the business and its people. We have a strong team spirit, enjoy working with each other and we have fun!

Trusted- What we say is what we do. Our clients, our people, and our communities trust us to do it right. We know how long trust takes the build and we are committed to protecting it. Our clients know we do what we say, always looking to add values wherever we can. We believe in open and honest collaborative relationships.

Winners- We are hungry for success and want to be the best performing contractor for our clients, our people and our communities. We are proud of the awards we win for our safety performance, our projects and our talented people.

Rail capability

We are a solution-focused contractor with extensive experience in the safe delivery of civil engineering projects for the railway industry.

From early contractor involvement, our multi-disciplinary team offers full design and build capability to provide innovative solutions to property, civils, track, earthwork, and drainage projects throughout the UK.

We provide everything from project management and engineering, to in-house track and ground investigation capabilities, covering:

Structures

• Stations and depots

• Track and light rail

• Enhancements

• Maintenance

• Renewals

Strategic partnerships

Stategic partnerships and joint ventues bring together an industry-leading combination of tried, tested and successful relationships to successfully deliver exciting projects.

VolkerRailStoryJV

Hope Valley is a £80m project part of a £137m investment which will undertake the extensive enhancement works to improve reliability, increase passenger services and aid in freight movements.

Carlisle Southern Link Road

Story Contracting have worked in close partnership with the main contractors involved in the Carlisle Southern Link Road project for Cumberland Council. Throughout Stage One Story worked in partnership with Morgan Sindall Infrastructure to develop the design of the project to enable the project to progress to on-site works . Works on site are now underway through main contractor GallifordTry, with Story Contracting completing construction of eight of the nine new structures being constructed as part of the scheme.

Working with our supply chain

We work with our strategic supply chain partners to help expand capability and capacity. We are committed to working closely with clients to understand their business drivers in order to align workload opportunities. Working with a network of trusted suppliers enables us to provide delivery certainty for our clients throughout the UK by working collaboratively to develop our “one stop shop” capability providing extensive capability and flexibility to our projects.

“Working with Story has allowed us to share resources and knowledge, which ensures project needs and concerns are met. Working collaboratively also gives visibility of each other’s pipeline and allows us to combine our work prgramme to maximise our resource level which continues to see efficiencies for our clients.” -

Jamie Kelly, Regional Director - 1stlnRail Ltd

Frameworks

Story Contracting are currently working on a wide variety of frameworks across the UK for public and private sector clients. We thrive in an environment where collaborative relationships result in effective and efficient project delivery.

We can provide references and testimonials on request from any of the frameworks highlighted on the map, many of which are on the second or third contract period ranging from 2-5 years in length.

Example projects

Royal Border Bridge

Working on behalf of Network Rail, Story Contracting worked to deliver essential restoration on the iconic Royal Border Bridge—a 170-year-old, Grade I listed structure that forms a key part of the East Coast Main Line, connecting England and Scotland.

Spanning the River Tweed, the 40-metre-high masonry viaduct plays a critical role in the UK rail network, supporting both freight and passenger services.

The team faced several challenges, including working on a nationally protected structure, maintaining live rail operations, and accessing hard-to-reach areas without disrupting the environment or service.

To overcome these constraints, Story Contracting partnered with RopeTech Access Solutions to implement a rope access and cradle system. This innovative method enabled safe, efficient access while avoiding the need for extensive scaffolding.

Killingworth Road Bridge

Story Contracting was appointed by Nexus to replace the life-expired Killingworth Road Bridgean essential part of the Metro network carrying up to 30,000 passengers daily between Newcastle and North Tyneside. The original 150-year-old wrought iron underbridge, with a 9-metre skewed span, was no longer fit for purpose and formed part of a wider £5.5 million scheme to allow road widening beneath the structure in partnership with Newcastle City Council.

As Principal Contractor and Designer, Story developed an off-site fabrication strategy to minimise disruption and maximise efficiency. The existing structure, including both abutments and span, was removed and replaced with two 21-metre steel U-decks, pre-assembled off-site. The new deck was installed using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMT), reducing time on site and improving safety.

Key supporting works included installation of sheet pile embankment retention, new concrete foundations, and reinstatement of overhead line equipment (OLE). A dedicated compound and temporary works area were established to support the efficient delivery of all activities.

Works included brickwork replacement, masonry repairs, and renewal of metal straps across all 28 arches.

The project was delivered six months ahead of schedule and achieved a £5 million cost saving. Rail services remained operational throughout, and the integrity of this historic structure was preserved for future generations.

The project was successfully delivered within a single one-month blockade, thanks to meticulous planning, early enabling works, and strong collaboration with Nexus and supply chain partners. The new structure enhances long-term resilience of the Metro line and enables vital infrastructure improvements below.

“This has been one of the biggest engineering projects in Metro’s 37 year history. It’s the first time we have had to replace an entire railway bridge on the network.

A huge amount of planning and work has gone into making tis project a success. It has been delivered brilliantly in an extrememly tight time frame to ensure the minimum amount of disruption.”Raymond Johnstone, Nexus Director of Rail and Infrastructure.

Horden Station

Story Contracting was engaged to design and construct a new two-platform station at Horden, served by the existing Northern Rail service. The station supports over 90,000 journeys annually, enhancing transport links, creating economic opportunities, and improving local access to employment. The new facility provides a modern, step-free, and accessible environment with efficient long-term maintenance in mind.

The project involved constructing two 100-metre platforms, installing new power, drainage, and communications infrastructure, and delivering all associated civil works including foundations, bridge structures, surfacing, and access ramps.

Precast concrete units were used for riser walls to reduce installation time and improve quality. Key systems including platform lighting, public address, CCTV, customer information screens, and M&E were integrated into the build.

Hartlepool Station

The project at Hartlepool Station centred on the reinstatement of Platform 3, a former southbound platform, bringing the total number of operational platforms to three.

The scheme included the construction of a fully accessible footbridge linking Platform 3 to the main station, with new lift shafts and stair access to platforms 2 and 3. Platform 3 is now operational for southbound services, supporting bi-directional running alongside Platform 2.

The project involved the demolition and full reinstatement of Platform 3 to meet modern standards, including the construction of a new fully accessible footbridge with integrated lifts and stair access to platforms 2 and 3. A full-length canopy was installed along Platform 3 to enhance passenger comfort. Track slewing was carried out on the UP

Middlesbrough Platform Extensions

Middlesbrough Station, located on the Durham Coast Line, consists of two main platforms and two freight-only lines behind Platform 2. As part of Network Rail’s Package 1 improvements, the project aimed to increase station capacity to accommodate both existing rail services and new services introduced in December 2021.

Platform 2 was extended to 265 metres by reinstating disused sections at both ends and constructing a new 30-metre extension. Works included new piled foundations, precast platform components,

Collaborative planning with Network Rail, Northern, and Durham County Council ensured smooth delivery within a shortened programme. Enabling works and crane platforms were carefully designed to allow efficient installation of bridge components and platforms.

The project was delivered on time, to a high standard, and now provides a safe, welcoming transport hub for the community.

line to achieve the necessary clearances for safe and compliant platform use. Station-wide upgrades included new lighting, CCTV, PA and fire systems, as well as the installation of Customer Information Screens on the reinstated platform. The works also required the relocation of existing signalling and telecoms equipment and the demolition of the original Platform 3 retaining wall.

compliant gauging adjustments, drainage, and service ducting. Enhancements also included a new waiting shelter, lighting, CCTV, PA system, signage, and a driver turnback facility to support increased operational capacity.

Geotech Capability

We specialise in high quality foundation, civil, geotechnical and structural engineering services for the rail, highways and infrastructure sectors. Our team capture the right information at site first-time, prior to construction, helping to reduce hidden risks and save valuable time, resource and money. We offer innovative ways of working, embracing new ideas and methods, and collaborate with clients to achieve optimum solutions for each project.

Frodingham

Story Geotech were commissioned to undertake a ground investigation and subsequent monitoring of a failing embankment adjacent to the Doncaster to Wrawby Railway Line. The site had experienced multiple failures over the preceding years from a mix of historically poor construction and a complex geological formation, resulting in rotational slips causing failures during periods of heavy rainfall.

12no boreholes were drilled to depths of 40m and installed with automated inclinometers and piezometers giving real time monitoring of information on the site for 12 months, prior to design works being undertaken for a permanent design solution.

River Garry

Story Geotech undertook ground investigation works to inform the design of a soil nailing strengthening solution for two sections of failing railway embankment adjacent to the A9 and River Garry in the geographical centre of Scotland.

Boreholes were drilled to a depth of 20m along the alignment and an assessment of bedrock made from subsequent lab testing. Following the GI, a solution was designed for 345 soil nails of varying depth to be installed with a mesh and plate holding solution. Our team installed the nails during one of the worst weather periods of the regions recent history, with works completed under time and under budget.

Walney Island

Story Geotech were commissioned to undertake a Ground Investigation to inform the design of erosion protection and cliff stabilisation works.

Our team undertook geomorphiological and geological mapping together with ground investigation utilising window sampling, rotary percussive boreholes and cone penetration testing at 40 locations along the South Western coastline of South Walneys historic household landfill site which was bound on one side by the Irish Sea.

20no inclinometers were also installed along the alignment to monitor slope movement immediately behind the planned interventions.

Glasgow to Barrhead

We were contracted to provide ground investigation information for the Glasgow to Barrhead (GBE) project, in order to inform the design of 116no micro piles for Overhead Line Electrification (OLE) structures and the subsequent installation of the piles.

Following the ground investiagtion, Story Geotech installed the micro piles to a maximum depth of 9m. The project was originally planned for a 6 week programme due to access restrictions. By reviewing the access strategy and employing a long reach with a Story designed working platform, we were able to bring the project to a close two weeks early resulting in significant savings for the client.

In-house Plant Fleet

Our extensive fleet is suitable for undertaking even the most complex of projects, and our Story Plant team have extensive experience of delivering a wide variety of works on the Nexus infrastructure. With a fleet of more than 130 machines, we are able to offer a range of innovative solutions and pride ourselves on working closely with our clients to develop the most efficient plant solutions for their challenges.

This allows us to provide a one-stop-shop for clients across the country. This enables value engineering opportunities to be developed and realised, as well as mitigating project risk and enhancing delivery certainty on our schemes. Our versatile fleet of road rail vehicles includes:

Wheeled RRV Excavators

Tracked RRV Excavators

RRV Dozers

MEWPs

RRV Crane

Unimog

Early Contractor Involvement

Although we undertake work for our clients on a traditional approach, most of our work is undertaken on an Early Contractor involvement (ECI), Design & Build basis within long term established collaborative frameworks. We find this provides added value to our clients ensuring that innovation and value engineering is realised at the best opportunity. Our ECI offering can also be applied when working on behalf of large Tier 1 contractors as a subcontractor however also when we are appointed as Principal Contractor

• We have an established and dedicated pre-contract team of estimators/ project managers and engineers that provide ECI support. Their remit is to review, and challenge early design work undertaken by clients to ensure buildability, cost and realise any value engineering. This ensures risks are reduced during build and achievement of completion within client’s budget.

• With ECI, Story are involved with the production of the design and work scope so we can price more accurately and quantify risks/ allocation to the party that is in the best position to manage.

• Reduced surprises and unforseen variations for clients.

The above is done as part of an intergrated team with our Clients so that all stakeholder requirements are considered at the start.

Minimising Disruption

As well as being experienced in minimising disruption on the rail and road network when delivering projects, we also have a strong track record in the delivery of other projects where minimal disruption is paramount.

This includes working in food production facilities, tyre building factories, energy providers and working offices where as well as ensuring projects are manage to avoid downtime, there is a need to manage dust, waste products and fully engage with employees and in many cases other contractors and disciplines.

Sustainability

As part of our Carbon Reduction Strategy, we have set Science Based Targets for reducing our carbon emissions, in line with the requirements of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), in order to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

At Story we have a Carbon Reduction Steering Group, Sustainable Innovations Group (SIG) and a team of Sustainability Champions who work to identify, research and implement new initiatives, multi-disciplinary and relevant external stakeholders engagement on carbon reduction opportunities across the business.

Highly-skilled directly employed workforce

We have been delivering civil engineering projects throughout the UK for over 35 years and boast a team of site-based operatives all across the UK, skilled throughout a range of disciplines.

Our teams have vast experience in delivering a multitude of projects, from small-scale repairs to the construction of multi-million-pound road bridges. This enables us to work collaboratively with our full range of clients to deliver projects successfully and discover value engineering opportunities.

Innovation

To ensure we continue to be a key supplier, it is essential we continue to look at smarter and better ways to deliver efficient and quality products.

Therefore, as the industry develops, we need to ensure we are at the forefront of innovation. Whether this is a new product or an existing one that has been developed by a SME we want to identify and develop those which will give us the competitive edge or make our work safer. We have introduced lower carbon projects such as ECOpact and Technocrete into projects, with an example being the Bicester Underbridges project mentioned earlier in this document.

Caring for the environment

We get to work in some of the most beautiful parts of the UK and we are committed to keeping it that way. We have been praised by the government, alongside other firms for leading the UK’s drive to tackle climate change as part of the global Race to Zero.

As part of our commitment to sustainability and taking care of the environment we take part in a number of innitiatives including litter picking, initiatives including litter picks, electric vehicle charging points and tree planting to name a few.

Plan Safe:Work Safe

Our Plan Safe:Work Safe campaign was launched in 2009, and continues to create an instinctive culture throughout the business with regard to health and safety.

We aim to design out risk at the earliest possible opportunity, ensuring the safe delivery of our projects on-site and that everyone that works for us and with us, goes home safe every day.

In 2024 we won our eighth consecutive Gold RoSPA Medal Award, in recognition of the company’s dedication and commitment to ensuring the safety of our staff, customers, clients and supply chain partners.

Supporting our communities

At Story Contracting, our ethos of ‘Doing it Right’ underpins our approach to working with local authorities and communities. We take pride in being a dependable, responsible partnerdelivering high-quality infrastructure while generating lasting social value.

Social value is embedded in every stage of our project delivery. We support local priorities through employment, skills development, and community engagement. Our strategy focuses on reducing carbon emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and helping to build resilient, sustainable communities.

We directly employ and invest in a skilled workforce, offering structured training, development, and wellbeing support— ensuring our teams are well-equipped to deliver excellence on site.

Our Social Value and Sustainability Strategy is reviewed annually, allowing us to respond to regional and national priorities while aligning with the outcomes that matter most to our local authority partners. Our current eight key focus areas are shown in the adjacent graphic.

Community Engagement

We ensure our projects not only meet the expectations of our clients, but also deliver real benefits to the communities in which we work.

Our dedicated in-house Communications and Engagement team works closely with clients, local stakeholders, and community representatives to ensure that our activities are transparent, considerate, and aligned with local needs.

Through early and ongoing engagement, we identify opportunities to improve our work programmes and methods - helping to reduce disruption, enhance outcomes for local people, and ensure that our projects leave a positive and lasting legacy.

Employability

We have a commitment to employing, training, and developing local people working with existing providers of employability. Partnering with organisations such as Inspira, APEX, Developing the Young Workforce and Routes to Work, as well as schools, colleges and universities, we will continue to provide meaningful work experience opportunities, advice, and training on construction sites across the UK.

As part of our strategy to ensure that the great employment opportunities we offer are available to all, we signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme and the Armed Forces Covenant, and work with organisations such as All Together Cumbria, Aid and Abet, and Haverigg Prison.

North East social value case studies

Work

Experience

Through our projects in the North East including Browney Curve, Middlesbrough, Royal Border Bridge and Hartlepool Station, we have engaged Groundworks North East ‘Tees Valley Pathways programme’.

Through this engagement we have successfully welcomed 17 NEETS on career taster days on site and three NEETS on a week’s work experience on site. This then led to the full time employment for one person.

Through a donation of £1K to the charity, we are now developing a bespoke work experience programme for more NEETS in the area.

Supporting people experiencing homelessness

As part of our commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness, we partnered with Sleep Pod to build over 20 emergency shelters. These were distributed by Focus4Hope, a charity we also support through regular sessions to hand out essential care packages.

We also actively engage in a partnership with Howarths Foundation, where we provide yearly donations, as well as items such as phones and laptops to help them support people who have or are experiencing homelessness back into sustainable employment.

Story Start Up

To reflect our mission to Do it Right we have supported SME’s in our industry and the communities in which we work for many years and Story Start Up is our latest initiative to support entrepreneurship and business growth throughout the UK.

Story Start Up is our business support programme which provides SME’s with an opportunity to request various types of support from Story Contracting. Whether it is direct investment, a loan/grant or business advice and mentoring, Story Start Up can help you to get up and running, expand your company, diversify or innovate.

Community days

To support the communities we work in, every member of Team Story receives two paid community days each year to volunteer with local charities and groups.

Recently, our team dedicated over 150 volunteer hours to OASES (Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists), helping three North East schools build growing spaces where students can learn about sustainability and grow fresh food for local distribution.