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27
Feb
Harrogate firm creates 12 new jobs as profits double
A Harrogate engineering and robotics firm is taking on 12 new employees following a record year that saw profits double.
Synthotech Group, which is based at Hornbeam Park, increased turnover by 33% to £6.5 million as UK utilities companies spent more on maintenance.
Revenues are forecast to exceed £7m in 2026, with an EBITDA increase of 32%. Net debt fell sharply over the year by 62%.
The company develops robotic systems that operate inside live pipes and underground ducts, and its recent growth has been driven largely by research and development across water, gas and telecommunications networks.
Mark Tindley, managing director of Synthotech Group, said:
Our reinvestment in the business has increased the pace at which we can bring new systems into operational use.
Working across water, gas and telecommunications has made the business more resilient and helped to accelerate our growth in key markets. Our robot technology is helping utility companies to reduce leaks, drive efficiency savings and remove the need for extensive roadworks.
Telecoms
In telecommunications, Synthotech is working with BT Group and Openreach on MicroBORE, a trenchless drilling system being trialled as part of the UK’s fibre broadband rollout. The technology allows fibre cables to be installed beneath pavements and driveways without traditional open trenching. The process is faster and cheaper than traditional methods and helps to reduce disruption in densely built or sensitive locations. The system was developed through a collaboration with BT and the University of Surrey.
EV charging
The trenchless drilling system could also help be used to help hook up many more homes to the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The compact drill can bore narrow, guided pathways beneath pavements and driveways without the need for excavations, which can be disruptive and costly.
Cutting methane releases
In the gas sector, the group has developed a gas pumping system that enables essential gas pipeline replacement works to be completed without the release of methane into the atmosphere. The system has passed operational standards with Cadent Gas and is set to help reduce methane release across the UK gas industry.
The company is now introducing these technologies to overseas markets, including the US, where utilities face tightening integrity rules and pressure to cut methane emissions. Overseas income rose 28 per cent in 2025, driven primarily by Australia, and the company expects further growth in both Australia and the US as partnerships expand.
The company also works with academic partners, including the Pipebots team at the University of Sheffield, to accelerate the adoption of in-pipe inspection and repair technologies across water and gas networks.
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