The UK’s construction pipeline increasingly depends on unlocking brownfield land, demanding precise remediation and fast, compliant ground preparation. Redstart Northwest delivers that expertise, offering geotechnical consultancy and contracting services that span site investigation, earthworks, and environmental sign-off. At the centre is Managing Director Steve England, whose direct, site-focused leadership has sharpened the company’s delivery and expanded its reach. As Stephen is named in the Managing Director of the Year Awards 2025, we caught up with him below for more.
Founded in 2010, Redstart has quickly established itself as the go-to remediation contractor of choice for the UK’s house builders and main contractors. With headquarters in Stockport, the company delivers land remediation projects and site preparation services to the country’s construction, commercial, and energy sectors. Alongside its core contracting and consultancy work, Redstart provides a full suite of ancillary services – including regulatory administration, permitting, waste assessments, earthworks design, and volumetric analysis – ensuring projects are compliant from planning through to completion.
Redstart’s cradle-to-completion approach covers Phase 1 desk studies, Phase 2 intrusive investigations, remediation strategy and design, and final regulatory sign-off. Its contracting capabilities encompass invasive species treatment, asbestos removal, demolition, soil stabilisation, and the re-engineering of ground to meet geotechnical specifications. With an in-house team of chartered geologists and environmental scientists, GPS-equipped plant, and independent UKAS lab validation, the company delivers technically robust, responsive solutions tailored to client needs.
The company is headed by Stephen England, a seasoned leader with a sharp eye for opportunity and a track record of driving transformative growth. Stephen entered the workforce immediately after completing his A-Levels in sixth form college. His 37-year professional journey has seen him rise through every level of the industry: starting as a Junior Engineer and progressing through roles including Engineer, Senior Engineer, Contracts Manager, Operations Manager, and Deputy Managing Director, before taking the helm as Managing Director – earning each step through dedication, versatility, and a drive to lead.
“I worked hard and made myself standout from the rest, so I was noticed,” he told us. “I volunteered to do additional duties that would make me a better all-rounder. I always had ambition, so it was never a chore for me to do more. I enjoyed challenges to better myself and always look forward to whatever the next challenge may bring.”
This full-spectrum experience means that now, Stephen strives to remain involved in all aspects of Redstart’s operations, including conducting site visits to ensure that his team is happy and performing well. He offers guidance and mentoring where needed, while encouraging personal accountability across the business. Under his leadership, Restart’s senior management team meets regularly to share challenges and collaborate on solutions, fostering a culture of openness and support. Quarterly business updates help maintain transparency and alignment, and the company’s strategic diversification – particularly over the past 18 months – has delivered strong results.
Communication is highly prioritised at Redstart, and even more important is how it is delivered. Stephen places great emphasis on being mindful of what he says and to whom, recognising that tone and timing can have a powerful impact, positively or negatively. Every message is given careful thought, with a focus on positivity, clarity, and the company’s long-term vision. This approach helps foster a culture of trust, transparency, and a shared purpose across the business. In this vein, staff feedback is actively encouraged as part of Redstart’s Employee-Owned Trust, and an independent EOT committee now plays an integral role in sharing ideas and suggestions directly with the board, ensuring that every voice has the opportunity to shape the future.
This open and inclusive communication style has helped cultivate what Stephen describes to be the best workplace culture he has experienced. The Redstart team has truly gelled, creating a relaxed and supportive environment where collaboration thrives. Regardless of rank or role, individuals consistently go above and beyond – not just for their own responsibilities, but for the success of the business as a whole. Recruitment at Redstart is a shared responsibility, with compatibility and cultural fit taking precedence over technical skills. The belief is simple: with the right attitude and willingness to work with others, any skill gap can be bridged through training.
Driven by a strong internal culture, Redstart has also made bold moves externally to secure its future. While the company is a well-established name in the North West, with most employees hailing from the local area, Stephen recognised early on that true resilience would come from diversification across sectors, regions, and client types. Over the past 12 to 18 months, the business has actively expanded its reach, engaging with companies in new industries and geographies.
This strategy has already delivered tangible results, with a significant increase in tenders and contracts from outside the traditional housebuilding sector. In fact, 86% of current tenders now originate from new sources, reflecting the success of this approach and the team’s agility in adapting to evolving market demands.
Looking ahead, Redstart is targeting ambitious growth: at least 20% year-on-year over the next five years. The company has its sights set on expanding into the Midlands and the South, with plans to establish regional offices to support this growth. A major milestone on the horizon is the acquisition of a dedicated Head Office, expected within the next 18 months.
Alongside geographic expansion, Stepehen is committed to enhancing the employee experience; a company-wide profit share scheme is being introduced to ensure that every team member benefits from the business’s success. The benefits package has already been improved, and further enhancements are planned to support recruitment and retention of top talent.
These strategic initiatives reflect the transformation that has taken place since Stephen joined Redstart in October 2023. At that time, the company had just 11 employees and a struggling order book, with annual turnover sitting at £5 million. Under Stephen’s leadership, staff numbers have increased by over 50%, and key positions are still being recruited. Turnover has already risen by 36% for 2024/25 and is projected to grow by 400% in 2025/26, with a corresponding increase in operating profit.
The current order book stands at £18.7 million – more than double the company’s previous best year at £7.8 million – and includes secured work for 2025/26 and part of 2026/27. Stephen has also introduced proper management accounts for the first time, implementing a new accounting system in 2023 to support better financial oversight. These achievements mark a turning point for Redstart, and they speak volumes about Stephen’s vision, drive, and ability to deliver results – earning him the well-deserved title of Environmental Services MD of the Year 2025.
For anyone striving to match Stephen’s immense success in leadership, his advice is this: “You must be prepared to put the hard yards in and set the standard you expect from others. Make sure you have a strong team who brings something different to the table, not the same thing as you. Know your numbers, whether it is cash flow, money in and out, or targets. Be strong and decisive in your decision-making, and remember: you can only act on the information you are given. It was right at the time, even if it proves to be wrong later. Learn from your mistakes.”
Contact Details
Contact: Stephen England
Company: Redstart Northwest Ltd
Web Address: www.redstartnw.com
