BRUSH Group is one of the unsung heroes of British industry. The crucial equipment it provides to build the UK’s energy network is so reliable that it arguably goes unnoticed. The lighting, heating and power that bring our homes to life – and the factories, hospitals, railways and data networks that function around the clock invariably rely on the extensive engineering capabilities of BRUSH. “From power generation to power distribution, we have been critical to UK manufacturing and infrastructure for almost 150 years,” says the company’s CEO and Chairman, Nicolas Pitrat.
Leading the way with innovative electrical engineering solutions for critical UK infrastructure, the company has purpose-designed manufacturing facilities in Loughborough and Blackwood, South Wales, as well as offices across England, Scotland and Wales. Most of the country’s electrical substations feature BRUSH equipment somewhere, and increasingly the company designs, builds and constructs substations for the DNOs (distribution network operators) as part of its expansion into engineering and infrastructure solutions. “What I find incredibly exciting,” says Pitrat, “is our journey taking a traditional product-focused manufacturing business and transforming it into a turnkey solutions business where the product is part of the solution. Today, we do a lot more than manufacturing. We work closely with our customers to help them specify their needs, and apply our engineering expertise to design exactly what they require.”
The designing of products specifically for the UK market really sets the Group apart from competitors, as does its strong service franchise, which is highly trusted among customers and reflected in the company’s tagline “Trust. Well earned”. The capability to provide local technical support as well as supply equipment is integral to BRUSH’s strength and enduring success. “It really is about the engineering, the creativity, the solution and providing the ongoing service to customers. As far as I know, we’re actually unique in that regard,” says Pitrat.
While the Group has a very British identity, it has its roots in the Anglo-American BRUSH Electric Light Corporation, established in London in 1879 by US inventor Charles Francis Brush, a pioneer of electric lighting who developed one of the first dynamos. Soon after, his firm relocated to Loughborough to a site that is still home to its headquarters and transformers division, a state-of-the-art facility capable of testing power transformers of up to 170 kilovolts. “That is how much we are here to stay in the UK and how much we believe in the future of the country’s domestic engineering sector,” says Pitrat.
BRUSH Switchgear, based in South Wales, designs and manufactures the essential circuit breakers and switchgear that protect, control and isolate electrical equipment. A centre of excellence and innovation, this is also where the company builds the next-generation technology needed to meet the UK’s energy needs.
As well as investing in its facilities, BRUSH is a committed investor in its people. In addition to the 750 employees across the Group, most of whom are highly qualified mechanical or electrical engineers, BRUSH currently has some 50 apprentices. The company is proud of its long history of apprenticeships, with on-the-job training taking place across the Group, but particularly at its manufacturing facilities, with the company boasting strong partnerships with local providers.
Many of the apprentices go on to have long careers with the company, passing down their expertise and knowledge, which BRUSH sees as critical for the UK’s energy security. In order to “keep the lights on” and replace and decarbonise the ageing electrical grid infrastructure – a task Pitrat predicts will take four decades – it is vital to have a skilled workforce in the energy sector, particularly in key independent manufacturers such as BRUSH. Fostering a workforce requires a vision that transcends government agendas and is a challenge BRUSH takes extremely seriously as an industry leader. “That’s where we see our future and that’s where we see our purpose as a company,” says Pitrat.
Pitrat believes that energy security also starts from security of supply – “how and where we get our equipment to transport electricity from the point of generation to the point of distribution”. With this in mind, BRUSH has been shoring up supply chains, investing in ways that minimise the risks of domestic shortfalls in products or expertise. In 2023, it acquired Italian winding specialist Co.Bo.T, which makes essential transformer components. This addition to the company’s manufacturing capabilities supports the long-term goal of security of supply. And such is the Group’s experience in securing the UK’s supply chain that in 2024 Pitrat was invited to provide evidence at the government’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee.
By future-proofing critical infrastructure and working towards a resilient national grid, BRUSH is advancing the electrification of industry and transport and, ultimately, the nation’s net zero target. Sustainability for the company means building cleaner, more energy efficient systems –whether for railways, electric vehicles or renewable energy grid connections – with strategic acquisitions and partnerships helping to bolster its capabilities. In 2024, engineering consultancy Rybka was acquired, bringing its experience of delivering low-carbon and Passivhaus projects across the UK, as was Scottish energy infrastructure and environmental engineers McGowan. Further strengthening its capabilities, through its infrastructure and power divisions, BRUSH also has the expertise to design and build complex mechanical and electrical engineering projects.
BRUSH Group has truly reimagined what it means to be an OEM (original equipment manufacturer), still building power transformers and switchgear, but also delivering consultancy, design and project management, to shape the future of low-cost, zero-carbon electrical power in the UK. “No business lasts almost 150 years by standing still, and that is true for us,” says Pitrat. “While we have secured our legacy as part of Britain’s history, we continue to innovate and grow. We are an essential part of its future and that is something that really excites.”
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