INDUSTRY PARTNER UPDATE
A New Chapter for Crofton Engineering
Following its acquisition by STRABAG UK, Crofton Engineering is increasing its manufacturing capacity, investing in new talent and preparing to deliver more firefighter training facilities across the UK.
Crofton Engineering has had an exciting and productive year. Alongside delivering several interesting projects for the fire and rescue service, the company has also entered an important new chapter. In March 2026, Strabag UK completed the acquisition of Crofton Engineering Limited.
So, what does this mean for Crofton and its customers?
In short, it is very much business as usual.
All existing staff have been retained, while the acquisition provides Crofton with significant financial backing and access to additional resources. This puts the company in a strong position to grow, take on more projects and continue delivering work to the high standards for which Crofton has always been known.
As part of this next chapter, I am delighted to have moved into the role of Training Buildings Manager, working alongside our Commercial Director, Adam McGregor.
Over the past five years, I have worked closely with Glen Godfrey, Crofton’s previous Managing Director, to design and deliver a wide range of projects for the fire and rescue service. This experience has given me a deep understanding of firefighter training requirements and the challenges fire services face when developing effective training facilities.
I look forward to using that experience to help guide Crofton through its next phase of growth.
Retaining the Crofton identity
Importantly — and something we feel very strongly about — Crofton will retain its name and continue to trade as Crofton Engineering.
We remain based at our factory in Linton, Cambridgeshire, and will shortly be moving into a newly renovated office building next door to our existing facility. The new building will also provide additional workshop space, allowing us to increase the amount of work we manufacture in-house.
This increased capacity will not only help us take on more work, but will also allow us to maintain the high levels of quality and craftsmanship that our customers have come to expect from Crofton.
We have already started recruiting additional staff and are beginning to see an increase in the volume of work we are able to deliver. This has been extremely encouraging and is a positive indication of what lies ahead.
With significant investment being made by the government into the fire and rescue service, the future looks particularly promising. We are currently engaging with several fire services across the UK to discuss their requirements for new and improved training centres.
These conversations are an exciting opportunity for Crofton to demonstrate our capabilities and experience. Our focus remains firmly on delivering high-quality projects, on time and to the highest standards, while meeting — and wherever possible exceeding — our clients’ expectations.
Investing in the Future
At Crofton, we have a strong history of developing new talent and investing in the next generation of our workforce.
We have recently welcomed two apprentices into our workshop, with a further apprentice draughtsperson joining our office team. Apprenticeships are something we are particularly passionate about, as they provide an opportunity to develop people from the beginning of their careers while building skills that are directly relevant to our business.
As Crofton continues to grow, our intention is to bring more apprentices into the company and provide them with the training and experience they need to develop successful careers within the engineering and fire training industries.
For us, investing in people is just as important as investing in facilities and equipment. By developing talent internally, we can help safeguard the skills and knowledge required to maintain the quality of our work as the business expands.
Our Partners
Crofton also continues to work closely with our long-standing partner, Fireblast GmbH, delivering LPG live-fire training solutions to the fire and rescue service.
At the end of 2025, BRO Fire GmbH acquired all shares in Fireblast. Much like the acquisition of Crofton, BRO Fire retained the existing Fireblast team while providing the business with additional resources and opportunities for growth.
We have already had several positive conversations with fire services about LPG simulators and hope to see more of BRO Fire’s products installed at training sites across the UK in the near future.
The partnership offers an exciting opportunity to combine Crofton’s expertise in designing and delivering firefighter training facilities with BRO Fire’s specialist LPG live-fire technology.
Looking Ahead
The last year has brought significant change, but the foundations of Crofton remain firmly in place.
We have the same name, the same people, the same commitment to quality and the same focus on supporting the fire and rescue service. What has changed is the additional backing, resources and capacity available to us.
With new facilities, new recruits, apprentices coming through and a growing pipeline of projects, we are excited about what the future holds.
For Crofton Engineering, the message is simple: business as usual — but with plenty to look forward to.
Written by Nic Vinten
Training Buildings Manager at Crofton Engineering
Nic Vinten has 19 years’ engineering experience and joined Crofton Engineering in 2021. He began as a draughtsman, then moved into project management support and became Training Buildings Manager in March 2026. He has spent the past five years working with emergency services, designing and delivering specialist training structures.