Having marked its 10th anniversary last year, Seen Services has even more reason to celebrate after securing a prestigious ECA Award, with its Eurotunnel Security and Communications Installation project being named Best Fire & Security Project 2026.
For Bradley Lucas, Founder and Managing Director, the recognition is the latest milestone in a remarkable journey that has transformed the business from a venture set up alongside his day job into a specialist infrastructure contractor operating across some of the UK’s most critical sectors.
“My background is in rail, and I started in the industry when I was 18 before quickly progressing into project management roles,” explains Bradley. “By my early twenties I was managing multiple railway stations and large operational teams, which gave me invaluable experience at a young age.
“I set up Seen Services in 2015 while still working full time in rail. As opportunities grew, however, so did the business and what began primarily as an electrical and communications business has evolved into a full-service M&E contractor, while retaining particular expertise in fire, security and data communications systems.”
Over the last decade Seen Services has expanded significantly, developing capabilities across transportation, energy, aviation, highways and commercial sectors. That growth was recognised this year when the company secured one of the industry’s most coveted accolades, winning the ECA Award for Best Fire & Security Project.
“Initially we weren’t sure whether it was worth entering because there was such strong competition,” says Bradley. “But the more we looked at the project, the more we realised it was something special because of the complexity involved and the constraints we had to overcome.
“We delivered the scheme while maintaining live operational environments where systems simply could not fail. We acted as both principal contractor and principal designer throughout the project.
“To reach the final was an achievement in itself but to then hear our name announced as the overall winner was absolutely fantastic. We were all over the moon.”
Seen Services is no stranger to industry recognition, with the ECA Award adding to a growing list of achievements for the company including being recognised in the UK’s SME Apprenticeship Awards Top 50 for the past two consecutive years.
“These accolades mean a great deal to us because we’re still a relatively young company compared to businesses that have been operating for 40 or 50 years,” outlines Bradley. “The recognition we’ve received has been absolutely massive for the team.”
While awards provide welcome validation, Bradley believes the company’s success has been built on a far simpler principle: its people.
“I’ve always tried to learn from the businesses I’ve worked for, taking the good things and avoiding the elements that frustrated me. My philosophy has always been about improving by one per cent every week because over the course of ten years the results will be incredible.
“People often overcomplicate success. The biggest factor behind our growth has been having the right individuals around us and doing what we say we’re going to do. When people see you consistently delivering on your promises, they buy into the vision. Once that happens, you’ve got everyone pulling in the same direction, and that’s incredibly powerful.”
The strength of that culture is reflected in Seen Services’ exceptional staff retention record and its commitment to apprenticeships, an area Bradley believes will become increasingly important as infrastructure investment accelerates across the UK.
“We’re going to see a huge increase in demand across infrastructure and there simply won’t be enough skilled people to deliver all of that work,” he says. “Apprenticeships are incredibly important to us and we want to take on more every year. The industry needs to invest in developing people because if we don’t, we’re going to hit a wall where there just aren’t enough skilled workers coming through.
“We’ve never had an apprentice leave us, which says a lot about our culture and the opportunities we’re providing.”
Today, Seen Services operates with a team of around 80 people across its direct workforce and long-standing delivery partners, and is on course to achieve turnover of approximately £16m next year, having grown consistently through strategic investment and careful planning. Rather than allowing rapid expansion to dictate its direction, the company has focused on building the infrastructure necessary to support long-term growth.
“We’ve always reinvested back into the business. We’ve put systems in place ahead of where we currently are because we’re always looking 12 to 36 months ahead. We’re constantly building today for where we want to be in 18 months’ time.”
A central part of that infrastructure has been the senior leadership team Bradley has built around him, with each member running their own area of the business and accountable for its performance.
“Building that team has been one of the biggest drivers of our trajectory,” he says. “Every part of the business has someone who owns it and knows they’re accountable for their lane. It means the business runs as a business, not around one person, and it frees me up to focus on where we’re going next.”
Despite the success it has achieved, it has not all been plain sailing for Seen Services, as the company faces many of the same pressures affecting the wider construction and infrastructure sectors. Supply chain failures across the industry have tested the business at times. However, rather than being disheartened, Bradley has viewed adversity as an opportunity.
“Some of the toughest situations we’ve faced have ultimately put us in a stronger position. They’ve enabled us to build direct relationships with Tier One clients and demonstrate what we’re capable of delivering.
“I’ve always believed that every difficult period creates new opportunities. There’s no point dwelling on setbacks. You’ve got to learn from them and move forward.”
This mindset has helped position Seen Services strongly within a wide range of growth markets. Future growth is expected to come from a combination of sectors, with a particular focus on UK critical infrastructure, including National Grid substation upgrades, prison upgrades across the Ministry of Justice estate, transportation, highways, commercial and aviation.
Underpinning all of this is a specialist capability that Bradley believes differentiates Seen Services from many of its competitors. “We’ve become very good at delivering complex projects within live, operational environments where performance, safety and reliability are absolutely critical. That expertise translates across multiple infrastructure sectors, whether it’s rail, aviation, highways, energy or other critical assets. It allows us to grow sustainably, while maintaining the standards our clients expect.”
Looking ahead, Bradley’s ambition remains undiminished, with Seen Services targeting turnover of £30m within the next three years, while remaining committed to the culture and values that have underpinned its success. “It’s all about sustainable growth,” he concludes. “We want to continue building a profitable business, maintain the culture we’ve worked so hard to create and ensure the people who have been part of the journey are rewarded along the way. That’s what success looks like to me.”
Ten years after its launch, Seen Services has already undergone an impressive transformation. With an award-winning reputation, a strong leadership team, a growing presence across critical infrastructure sectors and a clear long-term vision, the company’s next chapter looks set to be every bit as successful as the first.
Article kindly supported by FS Cables:
