JN Bentley has grown from a Yorkshire contractor into a significant UK civil engineering and construction business. Its work supports essential infrastructure, including water treatment, wastewater systems, pipelines, reservoirs and environmental schemes. Based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, the organisation combines practical construction experience with engineering expertise and trusted client relationships.
JN Bentley at a Glance
JN Bentley is part of Mott MacDonald, a global management, engineering and development consultancy. It provides feasibility, design, construction and engineering services throughout the UK. Its strengths include civil engineering, construction, and mechanical and electrical engineering.
JN Bentley’s Legal Identity
The legal name is J.N. Bentley Limited. Companies House records the business as an active private limited company, incorporated on 7 December 1972. Its registered office is at Snaygill Industrial Estate, Keighley Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2QR. The company number is 01085646, including the leading zero.
Companies House records accounts made up to 31 December 2025, with the next accounts due by 30 September 2027 for the year ending 31 December 2026. Its latest confirmation statement was dated 28 August 2026, and the next is due by 11 September 2027.
The company’s registered activities cover utility projects for fluids, water projects and other civil engineering work. They reflect its role in building and maintaining infrastructure that communities and industries depend on.
Quick Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company name | JN Bentley Ltd |
| Legal name | J.N. Bentley Limited |
| Industry | Civil engineering and construction |
| Founded | 7 December 1972 |
| Headquarters | Skipton, North Yorkshire, UK |
| Company status | Active private limited company |
| Company number | 01085646 |
| Parent group | Mott MacDonald |
| Main services | Civil, mechanical and electrical engineering |
| Key sectors | Water, wastewater, environment, energy and infrastructure |
| Workforce | More than 2,900 people across the wider business |
| Turnover | More than £600 million across JN Bentley, MMB and JBAB |
| Telephone | +44 1756 799425 |
| Website | www.mottmacbentley.co.uk |
The History of JN Bentley
From Yorkshire Roots to National Work
The business began in Skipton in 1972, initially carrying out water and sewerage work for authorities in Yorkshire. Work for Bradford and Craven water authorities and local councils in Yorkshire and East Lancashire created a foundation in infrastructure.
During the 1980s, the organisation expanded into building construction and became an early supporter of in-house design-and-build delivery. It completed industrial buildings and residential schemes at Linton near Grassington and Cowan Head near Kendal, broadening its capabilities beyond water construction.
In the 1990s, civil engineering became an even stronger part of the business. Its relationship with Yorkshire Water developed, while work extended into waste. Process, mechanical and electrical skills enabled the team to manage more project stages together.
The 2000s brought growth, new Durham premises and framework work with Severn Trent Water. In 2014, the business joined the Mott MacDonald Group, building on its collaboration with Mott MacDonald Bentley.
What JN Bentley Does
Civil Engineering and Construction
The business delivers civil engineering contracting services for infrastructure schemes. Its work includes concrete structures, pipelines, pumping stations, treatment facilities, reservoirs, flood protection assets and site restoration. Mechanical and electrical expertise supports equipment installation and operation.
Its involvement can continue from feasibility through design coordination, construction, commissioning and handover. This whole-life approach helps clients consider buildability, cost, safety, environmental effects and operation early.
Mott MacDonald Bentley and JBA Bentley
The wider Mott MacDonald Bentley family operates through three connected delivery businesses. Mott MacDonald Bentley, known as MMB, combines Mott MacDonald’s design expertise with the contracting strength of JN Bentley. Established in 1999, it concentrates on integrated design-and-build work for the UK water sector.
JBA Bentley, or JBAB, was formed in 2013 through collaboration between JN Bentley and JBA Consulting. It combines water and environmental engineering with an emphasis on low-carbon solutions. The three businesses cooperate with clients and supply-chain partners from feasibility to handover, while each retains a role.
Sectors and Project Experience
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Water and wastewater remain central to the organisation’s identity. The wider business works with UK water companies, including Anglian Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, South West Water, Thames Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water.
Projects can support the complete water cycle, from source and treatment to supply, drainage, wastewater processing and discharge. This work matters as the UK faces ageing assets, population growth, stricter standards, climate pressures and rising demand.
Environment, Energy and Other Markets
Its capabilities extend into environmental engineering, flood protection, asset repair, highways, energy, renewables, industrial buildings, aerospace, health, education and solid waste. This range allows the business to work in different technical settings.
Renewable energy work includes the Linton Falls Hydro scheme near Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The project reinstated a hydro-electric facility using two Archimedean screw turbines with a combined capacity of 120kW.
Other projects include reservoir drawdown systems, sewage treatment upgrades, new storage facilities and flood resilience schemes, combining construction with environmental care.
Scale, Ownership and Financial Position
The LinkedIn company details describe an organisation with more than 2,900 directly employed people, including its site-based workforce. They give turnover above £600 million from building and civil engineering projects delivered by JN Bentley, MMB and JBAB.
The corporate website presents a narrower figure for the direct JN Bentley team, describing close to 2,000 colleagues and combined annual revenue above £500 million across the three delivery businesses. These figures cover different scopes or dates, not different identities. LinkedIn places the organisation within the 1,001–5,000 employee category.
People, Safety and Sustainability
People are central to the organisation’s operating model. A large directly employed workforce gives project leaders greater control over safety, workmanship, training and quality. The business promotes collaboration between construction professionals, engineers, commercial teams and clients.
Its commitments include diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, health, wellbeing and professional development. Sustainability work focuses on reducing water use, limiting waste, improving energy efficiency and developing lower-carbon solutions. An EcoVadis certificate is also highlighted in group material.
Safety is vital in civil engineering because teams work with heavy plant, excavations, confined spaces, electrical systems, water assets and live sites. Practical training, supervision and communication help reduce risk and maintain reliable delivery.
Careers and Workplace Opportunities
JN Bentley provides routes into engineering, construction, commercial and business-support careers. Opportunities are available for early-career applicants, experienced professionals, ex-service personnel and people entering through skills programmes.
Typical roles include civil, mechanical, electrical and process engineers, site managers, project leaders, quantity surveyors, planners, skilled operatives and commercial specialists. Employees may gain experience across design coordination, procurement, construction and commissioning.
Benefits include health support, an employee assistance service, flexible holiday options, cycle-to-work support, life assurance, personal accident cover, carers’ leave, reservist support and discounts. The organisation invests in practical training.
Contact and Corporate Details
The registered Skipton address is Keighley Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2QR. The general head-office telephone number is +44 1756 799425. Other offices include Manchester, Exeter, Durham, Reading, London, Newport, Shifnal, Peterborough and Leeds.
The Google Business details supplied for the Skipton location show a rating of 3.9 out of 5 from 37 reviews. Ratings change and reflect customer experiences, not formal engineering assessments.
Why JN Bentley Matters
The organisation’s importance comes from the essential nature of its work. Water treatment, sewerage, flood resilience, renewable energy and environmental infrastructure affect public health, economic activity and community wellbeing. By combining Yorkshire construction roots with Mott MacDonald’s resources, the business supports projects from planning through to operation.
Its history, technical range, skilled workforce and focus on safer, more sustainable delivery have established JN Bentley as a significant participant in the UK infrastructure sector. As clients respond to climate change, ageing assets and rising demand, its integrated approach will remain valuable.
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