Category: News

Committed to delivering exceptional products, services, and solutions to infrastructure projects across the UK, we are delighted to confirm that one of Scotland’s leading mechanical, electrical, building services and sustainability consultancies, Rybka, is now part of BRUSH Group.

With an impressive track record of delivering superior services across a wide range of sectors, the addition of Rybka enhances our offering around Building Information Modelling (BIM), building physics, Passivhaus design and low carbon consulting.

Established in Scotland in the 1990s and with more than 50 staff located in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, the acquisition gives BRUSH a greater foothold into the Scottish market, and enables Rybka to grow into England and Wales.

Nicolas Pitrat, CEO of BRUSH Group said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rybka on board as part of the BRUSH Group. We already share a lot in common and I see many of our values reflected in the way the team at Rybka works together to deliver outstanding results for their clients. I am impressed with their breadth of knowledge and expertise, and having Rybka as part of the Group will not only support our ESG ambitions but also create decarbonisation opportunities with new and existing customers.”

David MacLeod, Rybka chairman, said: “We are very excited to be joining the BRUSH Group. Our proven track record as a provider of outstanding consultancy services, along with BRUSH’s reputation for delivering engineering excellence, will ensure we continue to go from strength to strength. Working in partnership with BRUSH we will grow our geographical footprint and build on our existing expertise; all while continuing to deliver an exceptional customer experience.”

Rybka is now a key part of the BRUSH Engineering Solutions portfolio, supporting growth into the ever-growing markets of infrastructure electrification and renewables whilst operating independently, and business as usual, with existing partners and clients.

As we move into 2024, BRUSH CEO, Nicolas Pitrat, shares his thoughts of what’s to come…

As a business that looks to the future, whether that’s by securing our supply chain or by investing in new capabilities – progress is always at our core. 

And it is with our eyes firmly set on the future that we enter 2024.

But let’s be in no doubt, the future does hold challenges. The energy management landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace; to keep up, we must adapt.

And that is exactly what we’ve done.

While we still manufacture the engineered products we’ve built our name on, our offering has grown and we now provide complete end-to-end engineering solutions – from project concept through to design and build.

Delivered through our Group businesses – Poise, KUS Power Engineering, Aprenda and Eta Projects Ltd, we support our customers at every stage of their project, making us a truly a one-stop engineering shop – expect to hear more on this in the months ahead!

And I’m pleased to say that the addition of our engineering businesses has seen our Group grow and we welcome many new colleagues into the BRUSH family. And, as you would expect of us, we’ve committed to the future, with our biggest intake of apprentices in almost a decade.

So, what else can you expect from BRUSH in 2024? Well, we will continue to support the drive to net zero as well as to focus on product innovation, including the latest addition to our switchgear portfolio, CRYNO, and our adaptive substation solution, PowerSub. 

2024 will also see us to continue to work in partnership with our customers across the UK, a commitment underscored by the opening of a new base in Scotland which will help us to pre-empt the needs of customers across the region. 

As we step forward into 2024, the enthusiasm and energy flowing across our business right now is truly inspiring and I, along with the rest of the BRUSH team, cannot wait to see what 2024 has to offer.

Nicolas
CEO

The BRUSH Group is excited and delighted to announce the acquisition of electrical infrastructure specialists, Poise Group. It’s a move that further accelerates the growth of BRUSH and will enable Poise’s unique design skills in EV charging and traction to perfectly complement the outstanding delivery capabilities that BRUSH is renowned for.

Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group CEO, explained the importance of the acquisition:

“The lower-cost, zero-carbon electrification of our infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges our industry faces. It requires new, agile and adaptive engineering solutions, and the acquisition of Poise Group adds specialist engineering expertise to BRUSH, enabling us to support the transitioning of the electrical infrastructure in the UK.”

The partnership also gives BRUSH a huge opportunity to access new markets, add expertise in different areas such as civil engineering, and offer turnkey EV solutions to customers at just the right time.

Poise’s Joint MDs, Prem Hari and Rajiv Agrawal were equally positive about the benefits the acquisition will bring, saying:

“We are delighted to add our railway electrification and engineering expertise to The BRUSH Group. Together, we’ll be better positioned to address the challenges our electrical infrastructure faces by providing engineering solutions for complex decarbonisation projects, including the EV charging and traction segments.”

The transaction was completed on the 17 May 2023 with business continuing as usual for all BRUSH and Poise employees, customers and suppliers.

Eugene Conroy, co-founder of Eta Projects, which was acquired by BRUSH Group in 2022, has announced his retirement.

As Managing Director, Eugene has played a key role in the impressive growth and success of the business and will stay with the company until August. Between now and then, he will be working closely with new Eta Projects MD Jeremy Watson (who is currently Power Infrastructure Director), to ensure a smooth transition.

Commenting on the news, Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group CEO said: “I want to thank Eugene for all he’s done for Eta, including to help facilitate the business joining BRUSH Group. I look forward to continuing to work alongside him until August. I know that Jeremy has exciting plans for the business and is aligning his future vision with that of BRUSH Group. There is certainly plenty for everyone at ETA and BRUSH to look forward to.”

Of his successor, Eugene Conroy said: “Jeremy is one hundred percent the right person to take Eta Projects forward, and I know the business will be in the safest possible hands going into what promises to be a very exciting future.”

Jeremy has already started work, setting out his vision for the future success, growth and profitability of Eta Projects, as well as providing more value to all our customers. “I’m honoured to accept the baton from Eugene,” he says.  “Eugene has created a highly respected consultancy practice and I’m excited to lead the business into the future. I want to maintain the ethos, integrity and reputation that Eta Projects is known for, as well as broaden the scope of the work we do for the NHS while looking to grow our client base in new areas such as banking, data centres and with the MOD. “

Everyone at BRUSH wishes Eugene a happy retirement when he leaves in August, and we all look forward to working with Jeremy to help him realise his exciting vision for the business.

A new year and with it, a new chapter for BRUSH Group.

It’s with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of our CEO Chris Abbott. Chris has been instrumental in guiding BRUSH through some of the biggest changes and challenges in the Group’s history.

Of his time at BRUSH, Chris says: “It’s been a privilege and pleasure to have been part of the BRUSH story. I’m very proud of what we’ve all achieved and built together, sometimes against very strong headwinds. I know that I leave the business stronger and in good hands, ready to face the future.”

Chris will be leaving his role this month but will continue to contribute to our future plans by becoming Chairman of the BRUSH Board, working closely with our parent company, OEP.

Our new CEO, Nicolas Pitrat, will be moving up from his current role as BRUSH Group Finance Director. Nicolas will ensure BRUSH stays focused on delivering uncompromising quality with every project, as we continue to develop innovative, integrated and sustainable engineered solutions that harness and safeguard the flow of electrical energy across the UK.

Of his appointment, Nicolas says: “I’m excited and honoured to be taking up the mantle from Chris. BRUSH has a great future ahead, with the people here to help us succeed. I’m looking forward to working with clients, colleagues and suppliers to help ensure we continue to deliver the innovations that will enhance our electrical energy management products and solutions.”

BRUSH Power Networks is delighted to announce that it has acquired KUS Power Engineering, a business that provides design, build and resource solutions for substations. The move represents another significant step in Power Networks’ journey to providing evermore agile and adaptive engineering solutions that will future-proof the electricity network and enable a lower-cost zero-carbon future.

BRUSH sees KUS’s people and expertise as key in supporting our vision of establishing the business as a leading OEM-agnostic engineering house. The acquisition will give BRUSH access to growing regional market segments, such as data centres and renewables, especially in and around the M4 corridor and within Scotland.

Following the completion of the deal, Nicolas Pitrat, CFO of BRUSH Group said: “Our growth strategy is based on enhancing our capabilities by strengthening our expertise and adding competencies. The acquisition of KUS follows this strategy and subsequently the BRUSH Group will broaden its segment and customer reach, enhance its engineering expertise and ultimately further grow our business”.

KUS will maintain its independence and autonomy, with BRUSH’s financial backing enabling the business to offer solutions for larger projects and bigger framework agreements than it currently delivers.

Lars Hennecke, Strategic Business Development and Sustainability Director at BRUSH Group, said: “The acquisition of KUS solidifies the BRUSH Power Networks profile.  It will add technical and project management capabilities and capacities, give us access to growing regional markets, and broaden our DNO reach.”

As we continue to evolve and grow our business, the BRUSH Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of engineering consultancy firm Eta Projects Ltd by our BRUSH Power Networks division.

The acquisition represents an exciting opportunity for both businesses to expand our presence and influence across the electricity and engineering sectors. 

Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group CFO, explained the importance of this acquisition: “Our vision for BRUSH Power Networks is to provide agile and adaptive engineering solutions for electricity networks while enabling a lower-cost zero-carbon future. The acquisition of Eta Projects is a significant milestone on this journey.“

Eta Projects Ltd is a leader in its field and the company’s talented specialists will retain their autonomy and independence while remaining OEM agnostic. Both businesses recognise the exciting opportunities this sale will give us in terms of building our capabilities in areas such as market reach, employee training and development, and customer relationships.

Lars Hennecke, Strategic Business Development and Sustainability Director at BRUSH Power Networks added: “Eta Projects complements BRUSH Power Networks’ capabilities and enables us to establish ourselves as a leading OEM agnostic engineering house, providing consultancy engineering, design engineering, as well as build and project management services.“

And Managing Director of Eta Projects Ltd, Eugene Conroy said: “I am delighted to announce this tremendous opportunity to share our knowledge and experience by becoming part of the BRUSH engineering history. With a shared vision of investment in people, we are opening a new chapter in UK Engineering.”

The transaction was completed on Tuesday 23^rd August 2022, with business continuing as normal for all BRUSH Power Networks and Eta Projects employees, clients and suppliers.