Proud to serve Construction & Civil Engineering since 1974
At Ivor King, we’re proud of our heritage. Every company has a story to tell – ours spans over five decades, built on innovation, determination, and above all, people.
What began as one man’s vision in 1974 has grown into one of the UK’s leading specialist piling contractors. Today, we remain a family-owned business, still run by the King family, and still guided by the same principles of hard work, quality, and commitment that started it all.
From Farming to Foundations
Our story begins with Ivor King, our founder, and the man who’s name the company still bears, who back then was a farmer with an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to ‘have a go.’ As Simon King, Ivor’s son and now CEO, explains:
“Our origins lie in farming, but my father also dabbled in civils and took on a piling job, which was successful — and we grew from there really. It was a different world back in the ‘70s, when you could just do that sort of thing and have a go. We must have done something right though, as we’re still in business and still doing our thing more than 50 years later!”
That pioneering mindset became the foundation on which the company was built. From humble beginnings in rural Warwickshire, the business grew steadily, earning a reputation for reliability, integrity, and technical expertise across the UK construction and civil engineering sectors.
Innovation that Drove Change
One of the most pivotal moments in Ivor King’s history came in the mid-1990s, at a time when the company was really starting to earn a reputation as a prominent sheet piling contractor, which led to a bold investment in new technology.
“We bought our first two telescopic leader rigs in 1996 – a TM16/20 and a RE12/14,” Simon recalls. “It revolutionised the way we installed piles. Later we also capitalised on using excavators with Movax side grip attachments to install sheet piles. Hats off to my dad for having the vision and taking the risk — the legacy of those decisions meant we were able to work much more efficiently and helped move us into a different league.”
Those decisions marked the start of Ivor King’s evolution into a nationally recognised name in ground engineering.
Pioneers in Silent and Vibrationless Piling
As the industry evolved, so did Ivor King. Recognising the growing need for more sustainable piling solutions and less disruptive piling techniques, the company embraced silent and vibrationless piling technologies early on.
“We bought our first Giken Silent Piler nearly a decade and a half ago, but we’ve been doing silent piling since the 1990s,” explains Simon. “When you think back to piling techniques my dad would’ve used and how things have changed over the years, Giken Silent Piling really is state-of-the-art compared to what we used to have.”
Through continual investment, Ivor King has built one of the UK’s most comprehensive fleets of Giken equipment. The introduction of Supercrush technology allowed the company to install sheet piles into hard ground without vibration, opening new possibilities for complex and sensitive environments.
“We found a niche in the Supercrush market,” Simon continues, “and over the years we’ve become not only Giken specialists, but also Supercrush specialists. We now also offer the GRB System, where all the equipment sits on top of the piles, ideal for narrow corridors where traditional cranes and rigs won’t fit.”
People at the Heart of Progress
Behind every innovation, every project, and every success story are the people who make it happen. Ivor King’s workforce – engineers, designers, operatives, and support staff – embody the company’s can-do attitude and commitment to excellence.
That dedication has earned the trust of clients nationwide and helped establish the company as one of the UK’s most respected names in the piling and ground engineering industry.
📞 Get in touch today to discuss your project or request a quotation.
A Legacy That Builds the Future
From one man with a vision, to a modern, dynamic company leading the way in sustainable piling solutions – the Ivor King story is one of passion, perseverance, and progress.
As the company moves forward under the leadership of the second and third generation Kings, the commitment remains the same: to deliver on customer promises, to innovate, and to build safely and responsibly for generations to come.
Ivor King was founded in May 1974 by Ivor King, a farmer with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. After successfully taking on a piling job, the business grew from humble rural beginnings into a respected UK piling contractor.
As a UK piling company, Ivor King has built its reputation on technical expertise, innovation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality bespoke piling solutions. Decades of experience, industry-leading equipment, and a highly skilled team have made the company a trusted name across construction and civil engineering.
Key innovations include early adoption of telescopic leader rigs in the 1990s, pioneering the use of excavators with Movax side-grip technology, and investing heavily in Giken silent and vibration-free piling systems. The company has constantly expanded its specialist capabilities with advanced technologies through a programme of continual investment.
Giken Silent Piling is a vibrationless piling method that presses sheet piles into the ground quietly and safely – ideal for sensitive or restricted sites. Ivor King has been using silent piling techniques for more than a decade and now operates one of the UK’s largest fleets of Giken equipment, including SuperCrush and GRB systems for challenging ground conditions and tight access areas.
While remaining proudly family-owned, Ivor King has continually evolved to meet industry demands. The business now operates its own transport fleet, first-class workshop facilities, an in-house training centre delivering CPCS and NPORS courses, and a specialist hire division offering piling equipment and steel sheet piles for hire.
Ivor King – We Are The Piling People
Celebrating over 50 years of excellence in piling and ground engineering, we specialise in providing innovative and bespoke piling solutions.
Take a look at the range of Piling Solutions we can design, install, and extract and get in touch with our knowledgeable and friendly team to discuss how we can help.
Our Piling Solutions Check out our full range of multi-disciplined Piling Solutions. Whatever your piling project, we’re your people.
