Bristol engineering firm celebrates 40 years as it heads for record year

  Posted by: user_amy      24th August 2026

A Bristol engineering business with 40 years of experience behind it is heading for its strongest year yet, driven by growing demand for electrification, renewable energy and decarbonisation projects.

Unitary Engineering Services (UES) was founded in Bristol in 1986 by engineer Roger Griffiths and has grown from a traditional mechanical and electrical building services contractor into a multidisciplinary engineering business working with clients across the UK.

The family-run business is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and is on track for a record year of trading.

Managing Director Adam Griffiths, who grew up around the business founded by his father, says the company has changed considerably over the last four decades, but its focus on quality and long-term customer relationships has remained the same.

Adam comments:

“It’s a great time to be celebrating 40 years, particularly as we’re also on track for our strongest year yet.

“When my dad started the business in 1986, the industry looked very different. Over the last decade especially, we’ve seen huge changes in the way businesses think about energy, carbon and the infrastructure they need.

“We’ve worked hard to adapt to those changes while keeping the same values the business was built on- doing a good job, looking after our people and building relationships with our customers.”

Over the last decade, UES has expanded its services to meet growing demand for lower-carbon infrastructure. Its work now includes solar PV, heat pumps, electric vehicle infrastructure and building electrification alongside its established mechanical and electrical engineering services.

UES achieved B Corp certification as part of its wider focus on environmental and social responsibility.

Adam says the move into new areas has been an important part of the company’s growth.

“We could see where the market was heading and knew we needed to develop our capabilities,” he adds. “Decarbonisation and electrification are now a major part of what our customers are looking at, so it made sense for us to invest in the skills and technology to support them.

“The fact that we’re now celebrating 40 years and looking at a record year shows that approach has worked.”

Looking ahead, UES plans to continue investing in its people and technical capabilities as demand for electrification and renewable energy projects continues to grow.

For Adam, the anniversary is as much about the future as it is about the past.

“Forty years is a milestone, but we’re not looking backwards,” he says. “We’ve got a strong business, a great team and a clear idea of where we want to go next. The challenge now is to build on what we’ve achieved and make sure UES is still evolving over the next 40 years.”