Through careful growth and innovation Playfords remains a go-to provider for challenging projects
Since 1925, Playfords has delivered specialist electrical and mechanical contracting services to clients across the South of England. What started as a small engineering firm has since been built into a trusted partner to the UK’s construction and civil engineering industries.
Having operated as a local electrical contractor for many years, Playfords was transformed in 2006 when Hedley Solutions bought the business. From that point onward, the company developed from a small operation into a major industry player.
The company evolved under the leadership of then Managing Director Alan Tuohy. This was the beginning of a family legacy, as Managing Director, James Tuohy, begins: “My father joined Hedley Solutions in 1998 as Chief Executive. He led a management buyout of Hedley Solutions in 2000.
“In 2006, Playfords was purchased by Hedley Solutions. A few years later, in 2010, I joined the business and began working as a Project Manager.
“In 2014, Playfords and Hedley Solutions merged to become the business it is today. Ever since, we’ve enjoyed strong growth and regular work from a network of new and returning customers.”
The company is today led by James Tuohy and Andy Downing, following completion of a management buyout in 2021. Andy Downing, who joined Hedley Solutions in 1982 as an apprentice, has worked through and been part of the business throughout its development and is now in his 44th year of service with the company.
James explains that historically, Playfords had worked with a selection of niche clients for over 50 years. “Since the merger, we’ve been able to branch out and bring in new opportunities,” he notes. “We’re now well established as a high-quality electrical contracting firm, serving a lot of prominent clients.”
High-risk services
Today, the company specialises in high-risk projects. The work offers abundant opportunities throughout the construction sector and sets Playfords apart in a competitive market. As James discusses: “We offer a level of expertise and reliability that certain projects, those with elevated risk or complex demands, cannot do without. We’re the first choice for technical services across the South of England, and that’s driven around £14.5 million revenue in 2025 alone.
“In 2026, we aim to exceed that figure. Current projections indicate we are on track to reach £20 million by year end – ten times the revenue we generated 20 years ago.”
Delivering a range of specialised electrical and mechanical services to commercial and industrial clients underpins this new chapter for Playfords. The company operates across three key areas, as James details: “Our first service offering is electrical and mechanical contracting, often referred to as MEP contracting. In this area, we work with commercial, and industrial clients, primarily delivering electrical services on construction projects.
“Traditional electrical contracting remains a core component of our business and has been since the very beginning. In recent years, we have also branched out into more advanced technical services.
“This allows us to offer what we call specialist projects – typically in high-risk, high-dependency areas such as public sector works. We often deliver major power upgrades, modifying and enhancing infrastructure for essential public services, including the NHS.
“We’ve worked as an expert contractor for every major hospital trust in Greater London at one point or another. Our work ranges from minor renovations to major electrical infrastructure upgrades, during which we’ll complete works in co-ordination with live clinical services to avoid disruption to critical services.
“This type of work is more intensive, as there are a lot of dependencies to consider. We must ensure there are the necessary backup generation systems and safety protocols in place, otherwise entire hospitals are at risk. We take the work incredibly seriously, and that’s why we’re a highly trusted partner to the country’s healthcare providers.
“Our third and final area of expertise is smallworks and small projects, including electrical installations, and network infrastructure solutions. For nearly 40 years, we’ve worked with major British brands such as John Lewis, delivering, implementing, and maintaining wireless solutions in offices and stores across the South of England.
“We were among the first to offer fibre optic services, and demand has remained strong ever since. That experience underscored for us the importance of staying at the forefront of technology,” he adds.
Nearly 20 years have passed since Playfords began this exciting chapter. Over that time, Andy Downing has helped transform the business from a small-scale electrical contractor to the region’s go-to partner for traditional, high-risk, and wireless services.
Prioritising people and partnerships
The coming year will be a period of evolution for Playfords. As Andy gears up for retirement, James reflects on how he will carry his business partner’s contribution forward: “Our key priority for the coming year is growth. Andy has spent the past 44 years committed to delivering quality for the business and I’m focused on continuing this ethos throughout the business.
“Additionally, we’re always looking for ways to improve the quality of our service and build stronger partnerships with our client base. We pride ourselves on managing all our projects in-house, so looking after our team is also a top priority.
“The last 20 years have shaped Playfords’ culture and identity, and my main goal is to preserve that harmony as we move into the next chapter,” he concludes.