SOCOTEC UK

Balancing forward progress with environmental responsibility is now essential in rail infrastructure. To ensure this balance is met, it is critical to consider ecology surveys. They ensure railway projects comply with legislation and protect biodiversity, all while helping to grow public confidence. In the UK, railway corridors often cut through ecologically sensitive areas, such as, woodlands, wetlands, grasslands and protected habitats.

United Kingdom Testing & Certification (UKTC), A SOCOTEC Company, has officially opened its new advanced fire testing firehall, representing a multi-million-pound investment in its fire safety testing infrastructure. The new firehall became operational in May, and was formally opened by Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng, at an event on 9th July, in which several of UKTC’s clients and special guests invited from across key industry organisations were in attendance.

SOCOTEC UK & Ireland’s latest Management Conference took place at Whittlebury Park in Towcester, with over 200 delegates from across the business coming together to provide updates on recent ongoing projects, as well as looking to the future. The two-day biennial conference featured multiple speakers from across the business, with evening award presentations celebrating standout achievements.

Due to GCR’s status as a charity, SOCOTEC completed the occupational hygiene monitoring works for a significantly reduced cost, with three experts attending the sites as volunteer work over two days. SOCOTEC UK & Ireland offers its employees two voluntary days per year, as part of its extensive wellbeing package, with the trio of OH staff coming together to support a much-needed service for the country’s railway heritage.

SOCOTEC UK & Ireland proudly sponsored the UK & Ireland Spill Association’s ‘Turf and Surf’ Conference for inland and marine spills between 16th-17th June 2026. The Turf and Surf conference brought together experts from a variety of sectors impacted by spills, including, regulators, manufacturers, and response professionals to discuss remediation strategies, spill response, and the future of environmental spill management.

Our Foundation team combine industry-leading experts with knowledge and innovative solutions to add valued engineering to Pile Testing and Foundation Verification. We deliver critical real-time intelligence to our clients to manage the performance of a foundation unit independently and cost-effectively.

The collaborative team of SOCOTEC, GEARS Ltd, Tarmac, and BAM Ground Engineering, received the two prestigious awards for their combined work on the Ravelrig Quarry blasting impact assessment, engagement, and mitigation project.

SOCOTEC UK & Ireland is proud to celebrate the achievements of Alex Burroughs, a Master’s student from the University of Liverpool, who was awarded first place at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) Graduate Lecture 2026. Sponsored by OFR Consultants, the £1,000 prize recognises Alex's outstanding research into the long-term performance of open-state cavity barriers (OSCBs), work which has been conducted in close collaboration with SOCOTEC's fire engineering team.

SOCOTEC Building Control Limited has announced the enhancement of its industry-leading employee referral scheme, which will see its employees benefit from a significant financial windfall, as the sector prepares for fundamental reform. The recent publication of the Building Control Independent Panel (BCIP) report and subsequent government response has outlined a roadmap for Building Control reforms in England.

Fire testing specialists, UKTC, A SOCOTEC Company, returned to the halls of Birmingham’s NEC for a fourth straight year at the 2026 Fire Safety Event. The event, held between 28th-30th April 2026, is one of the most well attended fire safety industry events, welcoming firms linked to the sector, with thousands of attendees passing through each year.