Established in 1991 as a small plant hire company, Shannon Valley Group is a family-operated and -owned business based in Donabate, Co. Dublin which has evolved into one of Ireland’s largest and most progressive civil engineering and plant hire firms, undertaking construction and civil engineering projects both at home and aboard.
The company was founded by the late Michael English and is now fronted by his three sons and equal partners, Mick, David and Dermot. Mick and Dermot take responsibility for sites, while David looks after the maintenance of the construction machinery. He was delighted to be named ‘Best Plant Manager’ at the 2023 Machinery Movers Awards. Shannon Valley Group also received the ‘Best Sustainable Methods of Construction’ accolade at the ceremony which was attended by 650 guests at the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co. Meath.
“I look after the maintenance of the machinery and a fleet of trucks,” David explains.
“There are over 500 items of heavy construction plant currently on the plant register, so strong leadership skills are required to manage a fleet of this size. Routine maintenance, breakdowns and safety inspections are all of the things dealt with by my team and I.”
He continues: “Our 30-strong workshop team consists of highly-qualified admin staff, maintenance personnel, fitters, welders, cleaners and general operatives who provide scheduled maintenance and attend breakdowns and damage repairs on-site. Routine maintenance is performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions using original parts and components.
“This reduces the risk of downtime and boosts productivity on-site. Employees in the workshop are encouraged to participate in the upskilling programmes we offer. We provide training and advice in welding, machinery servicing and maintenance, tyre repair workshops etc. In recent times, we have taken on two young apprentice fitters who are gaining experience at a live and busy workshop.”
The company comprises several departments. Engineering and Surveying is managed by Damien and John. Health & Safety is overseen by Michelle, while Paul is the point of contact in the Commercial department. Clodagh and Eamon are responsible for Transport & Parts, Michael looks after Quality Assurance & Quality Control and Ann-Marie is in charge of Human Resources. IT & Cyber Security is managed by Gary, while Helen runs the Legal department.
“Our people are our greatest asset. We’re lucky to have such a great team,” David enthuses.
The main services provided by Shannon Valley Group are: Civil Engineering Works; Residential Site Developments; Commercial Site Developments; Groundworks; Haulage; Controlled Demolition; Road Construction; Drone Surveys; C&D Waste Recycling; Quarrying; Slipform Kerbing; Landfill & Decontamination Plant Hire; and Soil Stabilisation.
Soil Stabilisation is a new sustainable method of construction which is in keeping with Shannon Valley Group’s environmental responsibilities.
“We are trying to limit our carbon footprint and provide sustainable methods of construction such as one-site soil stabilisation instead of traditional muck-away and stone-in method. We recycle most of our C&D demolition waste and reuse it on other projects. Furthermore, we have partially replaced gas oil with HVO fuel to further reduce our emissions.”
The scope of work undertaken by Shannon Valley Group varies in type and size from multi-million euro projects to small and medium-sized contracts covering all sectors of the industry. The company works with residential builders, developers, main contractors and local authorities.
With its extensive Health & Safety department and expertise, Shannon Valley Group regularly takes on the role of Project Surveyor Construction Stage (PSCS) to manage and coordinate Health & Safety matters. It is not uncommon for the family business to work directly for the employer or as nominated or designated subcontractor whereby it is selected by the employer who negotiates the terms of the subcontract with the subcontractor directly, and instructs the main contractor to employ Shannon Valley Group.
Boasting an exceptional fleet of over 60 trucks and excavators ranging from one to 70 tonnes, Shannon Valley Group uses the latest technology to get ahead of the competition. This includes advanced management software, GPS tracking, GPS guidance, computerised dosage of biners in soil stabilisation machinery, software monitoring fuel usage, Hitachi maintenance software, drone surveys and, most recently, utilisation of Artificial Intelligence.
Shannon Valley Group is a one-stop shop for any civil engineering project. The award-winning company will initiate and manage the project, coordinate testing prior and field-testing during works, engage with accredited laboratories and geotechnical consultants. Its team of experts will survey a site, carry out Health & Safety risk assessment and compile a Construction Quality Assurance Report and project sign-off after completion. This comfort, reliability and peace of mind is greatly appreciated by many clients.
Shannon Valley Group is currently involved in the construction of new housing developments in the Leinster and Cork areas as well as a handful of industrial estates in and around Dublin. The company operates its own quarry and gravel pit to supply its sites with top-quality aggregates.
As Shannon Valley Group continues to go from strength to strength, the English brothers would like to take this opportunity to thank their clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as their various teams for their hard work, dedication and skill.
Shannon Valley Group
Unit 12,
Shannon Valley Centre,
Turvey Avenue,
Donabate,
Co. Dublin,
K36 P589.
Telephone: 01 813 8082
Web: www.shannonvalley.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, July 2024, Vol 10 No 7
