Suffolk-headquartered BTS Group is expanding its West Midlands regional footprint following award of an eight-year contract for clearing vegetation from the overhead powerlines throughout the West Midlands on behalf of National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED). This work will help prevent damage to the powerlines and ensure continued electricity supply.

The new contract will increase BTS’s West Midlands footprint from three regions (Telford, Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent) developed over the past ten years to seven areas, including Tipton and Birmingham, Worcester, Hereford and Ludlow, and Gloucester.

BTS Group Senior Contract Manager Jon Pearson said: “The team has been delivering vegetation management for NGED since 2015, and this new contract will see significant investment in a full mobilisation to these new regions. Not only will BTS Group be expanding its workforce by around 65 roles to carry out the work but there will also be significant investments in new depots, vehicles, plant and equipment. The team will be maintaining about 88,000 spans of overhead electricity lines, which represents roughly 7900 kilometres of the network.

“The scope of work will also expand to include both vegetation maintenance and network resilience in line with the Energy Networks Association (ENA) Engineering Technical Report 132 (ETR 132). Managing vegetation growth around the overhead power network is integral to its continued safe operation. When trees grow too close to the overhead lines, they can cause damage in bad weather. Where growth is found to be too close to the power lines, this can be cut back and maintained to a safe distance. Network resilience requires a comprehensive management approach, protecting the network from storm weather impacts and taking pre-emptive measures to counter the risk of falling branches or trees.”

BTS Group is recognised for its health and safety record (for example, its Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Gold Award 2025), effectively embedding a safety culture that promotes active engagement and communication. Jon said: “Maintaining and operating a safe site is a fundamental goal for all work carried out by BTS. Communication on-site, comprehensive risk assessments for all tasks and fully trained, competent operatives are priorities, creating a working environment where all colleagues are engaged and encouraged to speak about best practice and raise concerns so they can be managed and addressed.”

Jon Pearson, BTS Senior Contract Manager; and Hal McCallum, BTS Managing Director

BTS founder and Managing Director Hal McCallum said: “Through this new contract, it will be possible to contribute significantly to the continued resilience of the West Midlands’ power supply. Vegetation control plays a critical role in helping to maintain a constant supply of electricity, reducing power cuts and keeping the network safe. Being a part of this contract will be a challenge that we will take in our stride as we work collaboratively with NGED for a resilient energy network.”

The new contract will begin on 1 April 2026 and run until 2034.

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Notes for editors

1. About BTS Group

BTS Group, established in 1993, is one of the UK’s leading utility arboriculture companies. Its primary work involves surveying and maintaining vegetation growing too close to the overhead power network, which helps prevent power cuts caused by trees. BTS also carries out reactive and emergency works if, for example, a branch or tree falls during a storm and damages a powerline.

The company is headquartered in Suffolk, where it operates in both the utility and the commercial arboriculture sectors. As an Arboricultural Association Utility Approved Contractor and a RoSPA Gold 2025 safety certified business, BTS is recognised as working safely, reliably and to a high standard.

2. About RSK

RSK Group is a global leader in the delivery of environmental and engineering solutions. We recognise the urgent need for sustainable change and know that this will be achieved by delivering meaningful action, not just words. We are committed to supporting our clients and societies as they navigate these complex challenges, while making a positive impact.

The business was founded in 1989, originally focused on providing environmental consultancy services to global energy clients. Today, while we remain a leader in environmental consultancy, the business is significantly more diverse. RSK delivers an unrivalled breadth and depth of environmental and engineering services, either as stand-alone projects or as large and integrated multidisciplinary solutions.

The group believes this emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for successfully addressing complex global challenges. This is why we have brought together pragmatic advice, forward-thinking engineering, cutting-edge innovation, digital solutions and best-in-class delivery services.

RSK continues to deliver its ambitious growth strategy. It now comprises more than 200 companies and employs over 17,000 people.

For more information, please contact:

Hannah Walker

Communications Manager, RSK Group

hwalker@rsk.co.uk