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Strategic report
OCU Group | Annual report and financial statements 2025
Governance
Financial statements
CEO report
A year of accelerating change and shaping futures This past year, OCU Group has accelerated our growth across the energy transition, utilities, and digital infrastructure markets. As we enter the new financial year, our focus is sharply defined and we will continue to enhance our capabilities through strategic growth, innovative technology, and an uncompromising commitment to safety and excellence. Our goal is to positively shape the future for our clients, their customers, our teams and investors. Our industry is continually evolving and requiring infrastructure services businesses, like OCU, to keep pace and shape the delivery to meet the changing demands. The UK’s commitment to net zero by 2050, combined with significant regulatory investment cycles, underpins growing demand across our core markets. Ofgem’s RIIO-ED2, Ofwat’s AMP8, Project Gigabit, and Scotland’s ScotWind program each represent multi-billion-pound investment frameworks aligned to OCU’s capabilities. The scale and duration of these programs provide a resilient platform for growth, even in the face of broader macroeconomic volatility. Expanding our reach and capabilities In 2025, OCU Group experienced substantial growth and transformation, capitalising on opportunities within the resilient, non-cyclical markets of the UK’s energy transition, utilities, and digital infrastructure markets. Our strategic expansion efforts, both organic and through targeted acquisitions, have been effectively integrated into our core operations. This integration has significantly broadened our geographic and operational reach, enhancing our ability to serve diverse market needs efficiently.
We have started to see the success of this strategy as the confluence of our services across the Group has combined effectively to secure new contract wins such as the Eccles battery energy storage system (BESS) and the Orkney‑Caithness 220kV HVAC Subsea Link. The UK’s BESS market alone is forecast to grow four-fold by 2030, reaching over 24GW of installed capacity. This shift, combined with increasing demand for private grid solutions and EV infrastructure, creates sustained opportunity for OCU Energy and OCU Connect. Operating in stable markets characterised by strong tailwinds and a committed spend profile has allowed us to concentrate on strategic growth areas. This operational stability enables us to invest in innovative technologies and practices that drive productivity and efficiency across our operations. These investments are crucial as they support our continuous improvement and help maintain our competitive edge in rapidly evolving marketplaces. Our strategic initiatives are closely aligned with our mission to deliver comprehensive solutions across critical markets, particularly in regulated power, energy transition, and water markets, as well as the rapidly expanding digital infrastructure landscape driven by AI. By extending our capabilities and enhancing our service offerings, we make sure that OCU Group remains well positioned to meet both the current and future demands of our markets, continuing to deliver value and excellence to our clients and stakeholders.
Michael Hughes Chief Executive Officer
OCU Group delivered consistently strong strategic and operational progress this year, underpinned by three acquisitions, organic contract wins, and continued investment in technology and talent. Our diversified position across essential UK infrastructure markets provides a robust platform for sustained, long-term value for clients and stakeholders.
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