It has been several years since we’ve had the opportunity to catch up with Matt Shaw, Finance Manager at Athena PTS. In that time, the Cumbria-based company has successfully navigated its fair share of major challenges – from the upheaval and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout from Brexit to skills shortages, supply chain disruption, material shortages, the soaring cost of professional indemnity insurance and, more recently, the war in Ukraine. The effective ban on onshore wind development in England from 2015 posed a significant obstacle in one of Athena’s core markets, prompting the company to diversify significantly. It now operates in sectors including renewables, energy storage, utilities, nuclear, defence and advanced manufacturing.
With many of these hurdles easing and policy support for renewables returning to the agenda, Athena PTS is well placed to seize the opportunities that are beginning to emerge.
“It was definitely a case of batting down the hatches and even going into survival mode for a number of years,” explains Matt. “Costs were spiralling upwards across the board and the rise in professional indemnity insurance was particularly challenging. This particular increase was mainly due to the hardening of the PI market following the Grenfell disaster – ironically, not an area we’re involved in at all, as we don’t really build anything or install any type of cladding. Thankfully we weathered the storm and insurance costs have reduced in the past 18 months. Having come out the other side we are now reaping the benefits as the amount of available work also increases.”
Part of this renewed optimism stems from encouraging signals from the UK Government, which has lifted the de facto ban on onshore wind development in England. It’s a market that Athena PTS knows very well from its extensive work north of the border in Scotland. Crucially, despite the numerous challenges of recent years, it still had the fortitude and foresight to invest in its infrastructure and its people, supporting its future growth aspirations. This included moving to larger and more fitting headquarters in Ulverston, opening satellite offices in Barrow and Livingston, and committing to training and recruitment of the next generation of engineers.
“We see huge potential for the onshore wind farm market in England, and we’re keen to build on the expertise we’ve gained working in Scotland,” says Matt. “It might take a few years for the projects to come through, but we’ll be in a strong position to deliver them – especially as we’re continuing to grow the team and invest in more apprentices.”
Consultancy at the core of Athena PTS’s growth story
Since its formation in 2011, Athena PTS has grown into a respected name in electrical engineering, known for its technical depth and delivery capability across the UK’s energy and infrastructure sectors. At the heart of that success is the company’s Consultancy offering.
“Consultancy has always been our backbone,” says Matt, “it’s where the business started, and even as we’ve grown into larger, more complex labour-intensive delivery projects, that technical foundation has remained central to everything we do.”
Athena’s Consultancy service focuses on detailed power system studies and technical reports, covering everything from grid compliance to protection coordination and network modelling. The majority of this work is undertaken by the company’s experienced engineers at its head office, where expertise and precision drive value for clients.
“It’s not the biggest part of the business in turnover terms, but it’s high-value work,” Matt explains. “It underpins our reputation, and it’s often what opens the door for other opportunities.”
Delivering Power Projects and Connections
Athena’s largest service offering is Power Projects and Connections (PPC). This area specialises in delivering the high-voltage infrastructure needed to connect renewable energy projects – particularly wind farms – to the electricity grid.
“We don’t install the turbines themselves,” Matt clarifies. “But we do pretty much everything else electrically – cabling, substations, switchgear, protection systems – the full electrical scope that makes the connection work.”
This end-to-end capability spans design, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning, supporting some of the UK’s most ambitious renewable energy schemes.
O&M capability for ongoing client support
Athena also supports operational sites through its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services, helping clients sustain performance and reliability well beyond the initial energisation phase.
“We do carry out O&M activities, particularly where clients want continuity after construction,” Matt explains. “It’s not a major growth area for us right now, but the capability is there when it’s needed.”
While O&M isn’t currently a strategic focus, Athena recognises the significant growth potential, especially as clients increasingly look for long-term partners who understand their assets from the ground up.
“It’s a natural extension of our Consultancy and PPC work,” Matt continues. “We’ve already got the systems knowledge, the high-voltage operations expertise up to 132kV, and the trust of our clients. There’s a real opportunity here when the time is right.”
Local strength in M&E Contracting
Athena’s third core service offering is its Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Contracting arm, which provides high-quality electrical installations for clients in sectors such as defence, nuclear and advanced manufacturing.
While PPC takes Athena’s teams across the UK, the M&E work is largely regionally focused, serving clients close to home with hands-on delivery of technically demanding projects.
“It’s a different pace and structure to the grid connection and high voltage work, but the quality standards and demands are the same,” Matt notes. “We’ve got a solid reputation in the local area, particularly in regulated environments where compliance and precision really matter.”
A trusted name with a bright future
Having weathered challenging years while retaining a strong team of around 50 people across the UK, Athena PTS is now firmly positioned for growth. With a healthy order book and an established reputation for delivering complex electrical infrastructure, the company is seeing sustained demand for its services – particularly in the renewables and net zero sectors.
“We’re in a really positive place,” says Matt. “There’s strong demand, especially in onshore wind, and we’ve secured some long-term work that gives us a stable base to build from.”
Athena is targeting growth from its current £8 million annual turnover, supported by new market opportunities and an expanding workforce, including the addition of new apprentices as part of its long-term commitment to developing in-house talent.
“There’s a real sense of momentum,” Matt adds. “Clients know our name, they trust us to deliver – and we’ve got the team, expertise and reputation to scale when the time is right.”
With electrification and decarbonisation accelerating across the UK economy, Athena PTS looks set to thrive in the years ahead.