Applebridge buys Hughes Bros and JIG Drainage to build £160M group

What's the deal? Applebridge has acquired Darlington-based housing civils contractor Hughes BrosDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and its sister company, JIG Drainage. Hughes Bros specialises in earthworks and site preparation for new-build housing schemes. Both businesses will keep trading under their existing names.

The numbers: In the year to November 30, 2025, Hughes Bros reported turnover of £34.7m and pre-tax profit of £690,000.

What's the endgame? The deal expands the Applebridge Family, a group of nine construction companies working across the residential, commercial, and multi-utility sectors. Together, they now have a combined annual turnover of £160m.

What they're saying: "Joining the Applebridge Family marks an exciting new chapter for both Hughes Bros and JIG Drainage," said Gary Hughes of Hughes Bros Construction. He added that becoming part of the group "creates a fantastic platform for future growth."

The signal: The acquisition adds earthworks and drainage capability to a group already spanning multiple construction sectors, deepening its reach in UK housebuilding.

Image credit: Generated with Gemini