Reds10 Group has completed a strategic investment in ESL Fabrication Engineers (ESL), a steel fabrication firm based in Kingston upon Hull. The partnership brings critical steel production in-house, supporting Reds10’s vertically integrated construction model.

The two companies operate in close proximity within East Yorkshire. Reds10 manufactures buildings off-site in Driffield, while ESL’s purpose-built facility is located 20 miles away in Hull.

Founded in 2010 by Paul and Gareth Thompson, ESL provides steel manufacture, installation, and maintenance across the UK. The business has grown its turnover to £7 million in 2026 and employs nearly 50 people. Under the new agreement, ESL joins the recently formed Reds10 Group, which comprises nine companies focused on the industrialisation of design and construction.

The two firms have collaborated for five years on public sector projects within the education, health, justice, and defence sectors. By integrating ESL’s technical design capabilities, Reds10 aims to increase efficiencies in its off-site manufacturing process.

Paul Ruddick, chief executive of Reds10 Group, said: “Having worked with ESL for several years, we’ve seen first‑hand the consistent quality of their service and their ambition for excellence and growth, values that closely align with our own. Bringing steel fabrication into the Reds10 Group adds a critical piece of the jigsaw as we launch our next phase of strategic growth to exploit advancing technologies, while integrating AI at every level of the business.”

Gareth Thompson, co-founder and managing director of ESL, said: “We’ve come a long way since ESL’s inception in 2010 and our partnership with Reds10 feels like a natural next step that will bring clear benefits to both businesses. This marks an exciting next phase in our evolution, and we look forward to building on the strong working relationship we’ve developed with Reds10 in recent years and maximising the opportunities ahead.”

The investment follows a period of growth for Reds10, which reported revenue of £144.7 million for the 2024/25 financial year. The group has set a long-term revenue target of £500 million, with plans to expand into affordable housing and temporary accommodation to assist local authorities with housing shortages.