Employee-owned Lindum Group marks 70 years with £209m turnover and 224 homes on site

Lindum Group, the employee-owned contractor founded in Lincoln in 1956, marked its 70th anniversary on 23 September 2026 with more than 600 staff and a workload spanning schools, housing and retail, the National Federation of Builders (NFB) said.

The NFB, of which Lindum is a member, said the company now runs 12 divisions delivering construction, maintenance and specialist services across the East Midlands, Yorkshire and beyond, from bases in Lincoln, Peterborough and York.

Lindum's own about page reports a net profit of £9.93m on sales of £209.3m in 2025, a net return of 4.75%. The company said its balance sheet shows net assets of £77.7m, a strong cash position and no borrowing, and that it delivers projects up to £20m in value.

Edward Chambers, Co-Chair and the third generation of the Chambers family in the business, said the anniversary was a chance to recognise everyone who had contributed to the company's story. "It was great to bring colleagues and their families together to celebrate," he said.

Employee ownership

According to the NFB, more than 80% of Lindum's employees are now shareholders. Lindum's about page puts the figure at more than 500 of its 600-plus employees, while its history page says the company directly employs about 630 people, half of them tradespeople.

That compares with the position at the company's 65th anniversary in 2021, when Lindum said it employed 600 people across 12 divisions and had around 400 shareholders.

Richard Beresford, NFB Chief Executive, said: "Lindum sets the bar for UK construction in its commitment to its employees, the Lincolnshire community and its incredible training ethos."

Current workload

The NFB listed a series of live schemes across education, housing and commercial work.

Education projects include works at Ruskin Academy in Grantham, a new science and sports hall block at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy in Nottingham, and extensions at Spalding Academy and Cherry Willingham School.

Four named housing developments account for 224 homes, with further schemes in Ampthill, Little Downham and Market Deeping.

Scheme	Homes
Heath View, Waddington	77
Beckingham	58
One at Charterholme, Lincoln	52
Welton	37

Commercial and community projects under way include a distribution facility near Peterborough, the redevelopment of the Neighbourhood Centre in Huntingdon, a district centre and food store at Wintringham, an extension to a Primark store in Leeds and a new home discount store in Brough.

Earlier in its 70th year, in February 2026, Lindum won two awards at the Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards. The refurbishment of Lincoln's listed Barbican Hotel was named Retrofit & Regeneration Project of the Year and the company was named Environmental & Sustainability Employer of the Year, Lindum said.

Seven decades

The NFB's account of the company's history records that founder John F. Chambers, a civil engineer, borrowed £100 from his father-in-law, grain merchant Edward Curtis, and set up Lindum Construction as a civil engineering contractor on 23 September 1956, working for water companies and industrial clients.

The first works van was an ex-Post Office vehicle bought at auction for £20. The company now runs 273 vehicles and 19 commercial vehicles, according to the NFB.

Lindum's first major design and build contract, for Sunstrand (UK) on Doddington Road in 1974, was worth £356,000. Its first project for Geest followed in 1979; that company is now owned by Bakkavor and remains a client.

The first employee, Pauline Brown, became chair when John Chambers retired in 1988. Lindum's history page says David Chambers, the founder's youngest son, succeeded her as Chairman in 1991 and held the post until 2024, when his sons Freddie and Edward Chambers became Co-Chairmen and he moved to a non-executive director role.

Companies House records Lindum Group Limited, company number 01236338, as an active private limited company incorporated on 4 December 1975, with its registered office at Lindum Business Park, Station Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln.