Churngold Construction delivers complex projects with confidence and commitment
Offering specialist solutions for site preparation, groundworks, earthworks, and land remediation, Churngold Construction (Churngold) has built a reputation for delivering the most complex projects on time and within budget. Headquartered in Bristol and with offices in South Wales, Devon, and the Midlands, Churngold has established a skilled workforce and strong relationships with major suppliers for its core operations in these regions, but the company also provides national coverage for repeat clients.
Established in 1985, Churngold has an interesting history, having diversified its operations to meet evolving market demands. To tell us more about Churngold, we sit down with Managing Director, Richard Martin. “Churngold started as a family business focused on construction waste management, but the family quickly realised there was an opportunity to carry out groundworks and other construction elements,” Richard opens. “The family built the business successfully for many years before it was purchased by private equity in the 1990s. Its new owners divided the business into several divisions, including construction, recycling, remediation, and surfacing, all operating under one umbrella.
“Since then, we have divested the surfacing and recycling divisions, and instead streamlined our operations into one business, with remediation and some other capabilities offered as in-house services. Our markets are fairly diverse, spanning the public and commercial sectors, and although we’re a subcontractor on most of our projects, we can also perform as a main contractor. On a more personal note, I joined Churngold in 2004 as a trainee engineer, and in my early days, I worked on the Bristol redevelopment project around the Lloyds building and Millenium Square.”
Impressive project pipeline
Today, Churngold’s operations remain focused on construction services but also include remediation, earthworks, groundworks, and civils for complex projects. “We’re constantly developing our skill set and organically responding to clients’ needs with professional construction services,” Richard explains. “We’re currently delivering a complex groundwork works package for the new TQA building, for instance, which will be the main academic facility of the new University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. We’ve had to get paperwork in place with Network Rail due to the site’s proximity to Bristol Temple Meads railway station and the train tracks, as well as gaining various permissions from the Environment Agency and the Marine Authority. We’ve built on several key skills while working on this, which has led us to win another enabling works package for a similarly challenging project.”
While the TQA building is Churngold’s current flagship project in the Bristol region, the company is simultaneously working on some large contracts across key regions. “We’re involved in the groundworks for the construction of a new prison building at HMP Channings Wood in Devon, which will house an additional 500 inmates,” Richard says. “We’ve recently completed two large contracts on behalf of the council to upgrade roads, footpaths, and cycle lanes in Bristol city centre, and we’re also working on a Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract to upgrade their workshop and vehicle storage facilities. Across the border in Wales, we’re working on Cardiff Arena, as well as carrying out earthworks for Port Talbot Steelworks.”
Investing in technology
In recent years, Churngold has invested significantly in digital technologies to ensure the company operates as efficiently as possible. “The construction industry often lags in terms of change and innovation, but a few years ago, I embarked on a mission to accelerate and update Churngold,” Richard reflects. “Every machine in our fleet now has GPS capability, whereas previously we had to have two people (an engineer and a ground worker) working with each machine. Instead, each machine has a screen where the operator can see the exact location and dimensions of the area needing to be excavated. This has not only enhanced our efficiency but also helps with the health and safety aspect of our operations. Aside from GPS capabilities, we’ve invested in avoidance software to help operators detect objects such as buildings or cables in the ground. We’ve also invested in two drone surveyors and drones, which are flown over each project site on a weekly basis to assist in producing volume calculations, CAD drawings, and models, whilst also creating a perfect record of the works as they progress.”
However, Richard is quick to highlight that while technology is advancing Churngold’s operations, its people are still the most important part. “Several technologies are enabling us to be more efficient, but it’s the people that make Churngold what it is today,” he states. “We don’t have a high staff turnover, and we have at least 30 people who have been with the business for more than 20 years, as well as a handful that have been with us for more than 30 years. We’ve got a comprehensive training program for trainee groundworkers, engineers, and quantity surveyors, and we moved away from the traditional apprenticeship model so that we can pay trainees better and offer solid career progression plans.
“We’ve also invested in our sustainability efforts, including offering a salary sacrifice scheme for electric vehicles and exploring the use of HVO fuel. Our biggest impact is planting trees. We calculate how much carbon we generate per year and equate that to the number of trees required to offset that carbon, so last year, we planted over 14,000 trees. This year we will be planting over 13,000 trees, but we’re not getting a tangible benefit like carbon credits or any other financial rewards; we’re doing it because we think it’s the right thing to do.”
Specialist solutions
Health and safety is also one of Churngold’s core capabilities, particularly considering the high-risk nature of the company’s work. “Our mantra is ‘everyone goes home safely’ along with ‘our people first’ and we do everything we can to make this a reality for all our employees,” Richard states. “We’ve invested in vacuum excavators because we cross thousands of live services every year, for instance, as well as ensuring every team member is highly trained in cable and service detection equipment, behavioural safety training, and real-life emergency training.
“It is widely known that the construction industry has the second highest suicide rates in any industry, therefore we have multiple mental health first-aiders, and support lines for any member of our team to call on. We have seen an uptake in people using those support lines in recent years, which is simultaneously great to see, but a stark reminder that this is a real affliction that can be debilitating.”
With several key projects underway and a team of dedicated people, Churngold will continue to deliver its specialist solutions across the regions in which it operates. Reflecting on recent success and thinking about the future, Richard shares his thoughts: “We’ve grown substantially in the last two years due to winning a couple of large contracts and our expansion into the Devon region. 2026 will be another strong year for Churngold, as we’ve already secured nearly all our yearly target in terms of projects and revenue. In fact, we’ve even got around 40 per cent of our target turnover agreed for 2027. With increased military contracts coming up in the next couple of years, we’re focusing on enhancing the relevant capabilities to ensure we can add value to these projects that are vital for our country’s infrastructure.”
“Unlike many other businesses, I don’t have a strict five-year plan, as our industry constantly changes and plans must be adjusted,” Richard concludes. “Instead, I’m passionate about the way we do business and the ways in which we support our customers and employees. We genuinely care about our people and provide several opportunities, from mental health support services to extra training and personal development schemes. I believe that by doing the right thing by our people, successful results will naturally follow.”