Defence and Security

Balfour Beatty has a long and proud history of operating in highly regulated, high-security, complex environments.  

Leveraging our Group’s end-to-end capabilities, we offer whole-life solutions from front-end engineering and design to innovative and efficient delivery and commissioning.   

Utilising this multi-disciplinary approach and drawing on our extensive experience in the Defence sector, we can manage risks, improve efficiencies and drive collaboration to meet our customers biggest challenges.

Over the years, we have developed robust and proven security systems and processes, and built trusted partnerships with customers and other key stakeholders, including the UK Government to help shape decisions and policies. Balfour Beatty is well positioned to deliver the MoD’s pipeline of projects over the next decade and beyond, including those outlined in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper. Through early contractor involvement and by developing long-term partnerships with both our customers and our supply chain partners, we can build the skills and infrastructure needed to secure the future of the UK’s Defence nuclear industry and protect the nation. 

The history of our business is closely intertwined with the UK Defence sector – from building airfields used in the Battle of Britain and the Mulberry Harbours used at D Day, to constructing state-of-the-art training facilities for MoD Lyneham and delivering vital mechanical and electrical works on the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.   

We were also trusted partners on four of five of the original Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Regional Prime Contracts and the DIO National and Regional Capital Works Framework. Currently, we are delivering a number of Defence projects across the UK for DIO. In addition, we are delivering projects for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston and Babcock at Devonport, and we have been appointed by Rolls-Royce Submarines Limited as the construction partner for their major expansion in Derby. 

In the 1950s and 1960s, we delivered the UK’s first fleet of nuclear power stations with work on Berkeley, Dungeness B and Hunterston A. Today, we continue to deliver some of the most complex, large-scale projects, such as Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, as well as working within operational nuclear environments like Sellafield. We are also working in partnership with Holtec on the construction of SMR-160 pressurised light-water reactors in the UK and have undertaken studies for Wylfa Newydd and more recently, for the AWE and Urenco.

In 2015, we became proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge by businesses to ensure that Veterans, Reservists and their partners are treated fairly in the workplace. We re-affirmed our commitment by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018.

Recognising our significant efforts to support the Armed Forces community, we have held the MoD's Employer Recognition Scheme’s ‘Gold’ status since 2017 and were re-accredited in 2022. We have also been ranked the fourth best company in the UK for employing Veterans in 2024.

Building on existing Armed Forces Covenant activity and working with our Armed Forces Steering Group, we launched our Military Talent Pathway in the UK in 2022. The Pathway provides structured ‘transition in’ support for career changers with transferable skills into a range of our key roles. In 2024 we launched our Mulberry Network, which provides tailored support and enables veterans and allies from across the business to build valuable and nurturing networks.

These achievements recognise the breadth of support we offer to the Armed Forces community, encompassing veterans, those currently serving as Reservists or in the Cadets, as well as Armed Forces’ spouses and other family members.

US Defence housing 

In the US, we have developed a leading position in military housing as a partner for more than 20 years in the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, one of the largest and most successful US Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). From the delivery of new and renovated housing to the provision of responsive property management and maintenance support, Balfour Beatty Communities strives to create thriving residential communities that fully support the unique and evolving housing needs of military service members and their families. 

We are responsible for family housing operations at 55 Army, Navy and Air Force installations across the US, encompassing more than 43,000 military homes and 150,000 residents. Through these projects, we have partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to oversee the construction of more than 15,000 new military homes and the significant renovation of more than 14,000 legacy military homes to date.  

We are strongly committed to advancing the DOD’s energy security goals by making homes more energy efficient, following sustainable construction practices and investing in renewable energy solutions including solar energy systems.