Providing simple solutions to complex projects keeps Natta one step ahead
Known for its turnkey solutions and dedication to excellent service, Natta continues to trade successfully in its 53rd year. The company is one of the few UK contractors to provide expert infrastructure services as well as groundworks and full design and build construction, as Managing Director, John Whelan, begins: “The first step of any project is the ‘enabling works’, which essentially requires us to prepare the site for the first stage of development. Our infrastructure team, who manage roadworks, drainage systems, and landscaping, take on these initial steps and then continue with civil engineering works if required.
“We recently completed two landmark projects. At Legoland Windsor, we constructed new car parks and handled the infrastructure, drainage, and services for a new holiday village. Also, in North Horsham, we carried out significant civil engineering works, including the construction of a new roundabout and a pedestrian bridge. 
“For superstructure projects, after the groundworks are completed, we then bring in our build team to begin work on the structure itself.
“As primary contractors, we build a variety of structures, from care homes and senior living apartments, housing developments for Housing Associations to garden centres and commercial buildings. It’s a turnkey service, which is unique in the construction industry. A lot of the time, infrastructure services are separate, but we offer a one stop solution as we have capabilities across the board.”
Turnkey service
Thanks to its in-house capabilities, Natta can take on more complex, large-scale projects than most contractors. “We currently have several ongoing care home and senior living scheme projects. We’re working in a variety of different regions, including Angmering, in West Sussex and Godalming, in Surrey. Each project has a different layout and feel. We adapt our process to each individual project and work to the vision of our clients and architects. There are also different price points within our portfolio, some of the care homes we create are luxury builds, modelled on five-star hotels. Others are more homely and designed for semi-independent living. As a turnkey provider, we must consider everything from the ground up – not only do we prepare the initial site, but we add all the finishing touches. That means considering what kind of equipment each living environment will need, and how to best integrate it into the flow of the building.
Project delivery
“With projects like these, there are a lot of moving parts, and they are often more complex than a standard home build. To manage the entire project from beginning to end, we strategize ahead of time.
“Natta has several in-house teams that complement our groundworks, infrastructure, and superstructure divisions. In addition to these core areas, we operate a utility installation division, a steel fabrication company, and a dedicated services team. We also have our own in-house training provider, CISTC, located at our head office near Farnham, and we own and manage one of the largest plant fleets in Southern England,” John asserts.
To manage its high-end projects, Natta’s team needs to be a cut above the rest. John discusses how it finds the right people for the job: “It’s no secret that there is currently a skills gap in the construction industry. We’re very fortunate to have our own in-house recruiter, and she is brilliant. Alongside that, we incentivise young people to join the business by providing a clear professional development pathway. We support apprenticeships and offer free in-house training, which allows people to continue developing new skills, and alongside that, we provide a competitive wage. All these factors have contributed to strong levels of staff retention. We have groundworkers, machine drivers, and foremen, all of whom have the opportunity to move into management positions with time. The internal culture of mutual support and continued progression makes Natta stand out as an employer.”
Growth trajectory
With a dedicated team of professionals behind it, Natta is ready for the future. “For the second half of 2024, we are focusing on sustainability. We want to become an industry leader in environmentally conscious construction practices, and now is the time to start investing in that side of the business. We have registered with the SBTi SME scheme and at our Head Office, we currently have a 140KW solar panel system and are increasing this by a further 160KV. We’ve already put ourselves ahead of the curve by using low carbon materials, and we have purchased our first fleet of electric vans and have adopted the ‘Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme’ and to date, have 16 electric cars within the business. The next step will be to start using biofuels in our vehicles and machinery. I’m very proud of our new ‘Natta Energy Solution’ initiatives. We have developed a PV/Battery system which will provide more than 75 percent of our annual cabin electric supply requirements. This is already operational and is being rolled out to our larger sites. As well as this, we are also developing a comprehensive solar panel canopy solution for new and existing car parks, that includes design, solar power and battery systems, EV chargers, greywater harvesting/SUDs, green walls, and landscaping. These initiatives will be entirely developed and delivered in-house.
“We’ve also expanded into development work, actively seeking our own opportunities, growing the business, and acquiring key sites for property development. In addition, we are engaged in the green energy sector, further broadening our scope and commitment to sustainable practices. That’s been really rewarding. We’re currently a £70 million group of companies, and within the management team, we’ve put together a three-year plan to reach £100 million. This is a very achievable goal, based on the success we’ve seen in the past few years.
“In the longer term, we’d like to see the company reach £150 million. With our facilities and setup, I think we could even surpass that figure. We’re currently pricing several projects that will help us toward our short- and long-term goals, a new care home contract in Chelmsford, Essex worth £20 million, for example. The work we’re doing now is certainly laying the foundations for considerable expansion, and it’s clear we have an exciting future ahead of us,” John concludes.