Andrew Jackson and Smailes Goldie advise on sale of LSTC Group to SOCOTEC UK and Ireland

Leading regional firms Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP and chartered accountants Smailes Goldie, announce that they have advised the selling shareholders of Driffield-based LSTC Group (“LSTC”) on the sale of their shares to SOCOTEC UK & Ireland (“SOCOTEC”), a leading provider of testing, inspection and certification services, which employs over 2,000 people and generates £240 million of revenue.

Serving the UK’s electrical transmission and distribution network sectors, LSTC is the sixteenth acquisition made by SOCOTEC UK and Ireland since 2017, with the move strategically enhancing SOCOTEC’s existing infrastructure capabilities while adding highly specialised expertise to the company’s growing portfolio of critical infrastructure and energy sector services.

Since its inception in 1954, LSTC has become a leading trusted provider of engineering, design and asset inspection services primarily for the UK’s regulated energy infrastructure sector. The company serves transmission owners (TOs), distribution network operators (Denos), independent connection providers (ICPs/IEPCs), and project developers across the energy infrastructure sector.

LSTC’s revenue stream is well-diversified within the UK’s RIIO-regulated energy infrastructure market, which reached £2.8bn for transmission and £4.4bn for distribution in 2024, and is expected to continue growing through to and beyond 2030.

Andrew Jackson Solicitors’ corporate partner Andrew Funnell, supported by associate Jon Croft, provided legal advice to the shareholders of LSTC throughout the sale process; corporate finance advice was provided by Mike Stocks and Jamie Chilcott, both partners at Smailes Goldie.

Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK & Ireland, said: “The acquisition of LSTC represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy and commitment to enhancing infrastructure safety and reliability across the UK and Ireland.

“LSTC’s expertise in serving the UK’s regulated energy infrastructure sector, combined with their talented team, will significantly strengthen our engineering capabilities and expand our asset inspection offerings in this critical sector, particularly as the UK continues to majorly invest in its transmission and distribution networks.”

Steve Fowler, managing director of LSTC, added: “Joining forces with SOCOTEC UK & Ireland enables us to realise the expansion of our engineering, design, survey and inspection services while benefiting from access to wider resources, expertise and clients.

“The team at LSTC has developed strong relationships with major transmission and distribution network operators over several years and, as part of SOCOTEC, we are keen to build on that legacy while contributing to the company’s comprehensive infrastructure and energy sector offering.”

 

Photo caption (top of page): L-R – Jamie Chilcott, partner, Smailes Goldie; Andrew Funnell, corporate partner, Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP; Steve Fowler, managing director, LSTC Group; Tim Wilkins, chairman, LSTC Group; Richard Shipley, finance director, LSTC Group; Mike Stocks, partner, Smailes Goldie; and Jon Croft, associate solicitor, Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP