Our History
In 1963 Jack Breheny, having acquired a great deal of experience and many contacts within the construction and civil engineering industry, started his own business. Working from the front room of the bungalow he built as the family home in Lowestoft, Jack had around a dozen employees and was the proud owner of one digger. He had always been interested in construction plant and wherever possible purchased plant rather than hiring-in; a philosophy still practiced by Breheny today. Early prosperity led to the purchase of the Sand Pit at Henstead, which was to be the company's Head Office for many years. The company's successful involvement in large-scale projects, such as Frostenden bypass, quickly established Breheny's reputation in the industry.
In 1973, the company's offices moved from Ipswich and Henstead to a more accessible location on the Lion Barn Industrial Estate at Needham Market, near Ipswich. Before the end of the decade a second office had been opened in Cambridgeshire, where the firm had an increasing number of clients. The second office was a crucial step in the Company's development strategy. Located in Huntingdon, it was well positioned to work with the Development Corporations at Peterborough and Milton Keynes, where during the 1980's a vast amount of commercial development and new housing was under construction.
Meanwhile, at Needham Market the firm's active involvement in highway construction and maintenance continued. Major highways projects included village bypasses at Hadleigh, Ixworth and Saxmundham and a series of trunk road maintenance contracts particularly on the then A45 (now the A14). In 1982 Breheny secured its first Term Mainlaying Contract for Anglian Water and also became involved in Design and Build, undertaking its first £1million design and build project in 1988 for Ellough Estates Ltd.
By 1989 continued expansion led the company to move to a purpose built Head Office complex at nearby Creeting St Mary, where on-site facilities include a major vehicle workshop and storage areas for its large plant and vehicle fleet, welding shops, recycling facilities, and training centre. Similar purpose built offices and workshops were provided in Huntingdon the following year.
Success continued during the 1990's with the company opening area offices in Kent to service it's growing number of clients south of the River Thames, and expanding its range of activities into landfill site operations, coastal defence works and civil airport runway construction.
In 2005, Breheny acquired Witham Valley Civil Engineering Ltd in Boston, Lincolnshire. This is still operated under the leadership of former owner, Martin Barsby, with support from Breheny's Huntingdon office.
Today the Group has clients in almost every area of Britain, and has diversified into all aspects of Civil Engineering. It continues to provide an increasingly competitive and reliable service, with a large proportion of its business being repeat orders from customers who are impressed by Breheny's ability to provide high quality workmanship on time, on cost and to the highest standards.