Our Story

Oliver Connell & Son is a specialist groundworks civil engineering, RC Frame, Rail and Aviation subcontractor based in West London founded in 1974 by Oliver and Pat Connell both from Cullion, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. Oliver and Pat’s beginnings came from a humble farming background, ploughing fields with horses, milking cows, and helping with general tasks around the farm. The farm remained a constant throughout their up bringing and into adulthood whilst they worked on their trade of carpentry.

Both Oliver and Pat began their careers as carpenters with the same business, Mick Reynolds Coaches (traditional Irish Horse and Cart Manufacturers) working on Coaches which were used within the farming industry and general transport. After cutting their teeth here, they progressed onto construction carpentry with contractors on various projects in Ireland. Both Oliver & Pat migrated to London separately. Oliver first in 1964 followed by Pat in 1970. Oliver and Pat worked on various iconic London Projects up until 1974 when Oliver Connell & Son was established. It wasn’t a smooth start as in 1975, following kidney problems, Oliver needed a transplant which Pat provided.

The rest, as they say, is history and shows the progression of Oliver Connell & Son from its humble beginnings to where we are today.

 

Tragically, we lost Oliver at the start of COVID back in 2020. Oliver was a big force inside and outside of the business and was a major influence alongside Pat to the 2nd generation of Pat’s 3 Sons - James (Manging Director), Tom (Director) and Patsy Connell who have led the business since 2010 to what is now one of the UKs leading specialist contractors. (Top 5 according to Construction News latest Poll).

Although growth has been steady since its inception, the last decade has represented a meteoric rise growing from £9m in 2010 to £143m in 2023, breaking into new market sectors supporting Britain’s demanding and ever-changing built environment.

 

3 Generations – Patsy (PM), Pat (Founder), Tom (Director) & Seamus (Apprentice)

The key to our longevity and success, we believe, lies in our working-class Irish roots. Whatever we are doing, whatever clients we are working for, we focus on the wellbeing of our workforce and leaving a positive legacy within the communities we work in. Through local job opportunities, apprenticeships, and direct local projects. It is in our DNA to make a positive impact.

Leadership & Achievements

At Oliver Connell & Son, we have a relatively young Directorship which enables us to utilize our traditional background whilst being agile enough to change with the ever-evolving landscape of construction.

The Leadership of the business is crucial to driving home our key values. Safety, Quality, Programme and now the most recent adaptation, Sustainability which is now top of our agenda across the business in all departments. As a collective, this our way - “The OC Way”.

“The OC Way” has enabled us to pick up numerous awards and achievements over the years being recognised both internally and externally:

  • Multiple Construct Awards – For both Quality of work and Health & Safety
  • “Concrete Society” Award for Architectural Concrete
  • Shortlisted at the Construction News Awards 2023 – Health, Safety & Wellbeing Excellence
  • 5,000,000 RIDDOR Free Hrs 2023
  • Balfour Beatty Award 2022

 

Although the awards and achievements mentioned are a great accolade for the business and a rubber stamp to our efforts, the achievements that we are most proud of is something you won’t read about on LinkedIn and that is our work in the community.

In line with our rich Irish heritage, community and more importantly community support is second nature to Oliver Connell & Son. We understand that we are going to make an impact in any area in which we operate, whether it be a large project in Central London, Newcastle or Heathrow Airport, we ensure that this impact is a positive one with a lasting legacy.

 

Community

We pride ourselves with our efforts both locally (Perivale / Hanwell / Ealing / Kilburn) and in the wider business operations throughout the UK. This is something that gives us the most satisfaction making a difference to people’s lives who need it the most. Below is a list of community projects that we have been involved with (further information can be available upon request);

  • Support to London Irish Centre
  • London GAA Sponsorship
  • Large donations to Kilburn Pensioners
  • OC Way Bike ride Oxford to Cambridge - Substantial money raised for the Lighthouse Charity & West London Kidney Patients Association
  • Sponsorship of Pitshanger Football Club
  • Donations to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – Hanwell
  • Local Charities, Youth Sports Foodbanks
  • Donating materials and resource to help local causes.

 

As the company has evolved, it has diversified its service to offering into rail, civil and aviation, with a substantial part of its operation based out of two of the UKs major infrastructure hubs. Heathrow Airport and HS2. As our client base has grown into the tier 1 sector, so has their demands and problems. This has given us the motivation and opportunity to innovate and come up with the efficient solutions which only add to the brand value of Oliver Connell & Son. No better example of this is in our Aviation and Infrastructure division.

 

Innovations

Over time, Oliver Connell & Son has grown to be one of the biggest sub-contractors at Heathrow Airport and continues to help deliver and develop capabilities at Europe’s busiest airport. We see this as our flagship project and the part of our business where we test-drive innovations desired by the airport. As well as our lean construction drive, our innovations are aligned with our sustainable goals and ambitions that not only helps us change Britain for the better, but also acts as our unique selling point to keep us ahead of our competitors, both inside and outside our airport operations.

A good example of this is our VAC-EX which has been converted to 50% powered by gas. This enables us to safeguard the welfare of our workforce around services, whilst leaving a greatly reduced carbon footprint in our wake.

To compound this, we were the first contractor in the UK to make the bold decision to switch to HVO. For all that don’t know, HVO is Hydronated Vegetable Oil. Although this might sound strange, the benefits are quite remarkable. Any diesel engine can take this fuel and it is an instant 92% saving of carbon dioxide for minimal implementation.

 

Additionally, our scope 3 emissions plan has taken front seat in terms of embodied carbon. Again, in terms of pouring concrete, this means getting involved at design stages and alongside our technical and pre-construction teams, advising our clients where Earth Friendly Concrete can be utilised. Again, this is not always the most economical choice but an investment in our brand. Adding weight to a more sustainable industry can only raise the bar and set the standard. We like to say we help our clients help their clients. Ultimately building Britain in a more sustainable way.

Our ambitions do not stop there. Our clients see the value that we bring and appreciate the mindset behind it. Our next goal is to electrify our fleet to again reduce our carbon footprint as we continue our journey to net zero by 2030.

 

What does the future look like?

In terms of goals, we want to continue delivering high-quality projects for top clients. Oliver Connell & Son is currently in its 50th year of trading. This is something that we are immensely proud of as it has been accomplished our way “The OC Way”. This certainly is not to suggest we are resting on our laurels. The business continuity plan is in full force.

 

With the 3rd generation of the Connell family coming through the ranks, we look to further evolve and develop so that the next fifty years are as successful as the last.

 

Building Britain - Project Examples

HS2 Infrastructure Aylesbury Overbridges & Oxford Road

London Heathrow Airport – 2.5Km Pit and Duct / Virtual Tower

Birmingham University Station

Bio Medical Centre and Covid-19 Emergency Hospital - Cambridge