About us
The people behind the concrete
six decades of excellence
We're groundworks and concrete frame specialists, bringing 60 years of technical expertise to every project. Our reputation comes from consistent delivery and relationships built on specialist rigour across all phases.
Founder-owned and foundation-backed, we're positioned for long-term growth rather than short-term profit. That stability allows us to invest in people, equipment, and the expertise that sets our work apart.
Relationships. Expertise. Standards
Why we are different
Long-term relationships
Construction is a people business. The contractors we work with repeatedly choose us because they know our team, trust our delivery, and value the consistency we bring to complex projects. Many of our client relationships span decades.
We invest in expertise
Harry Hobbs joined us as a trainee 20 years ago, and we quickly spotted his talent and invested in his university education. He gained additional expertise at other major contractors and returned in 2021 bringing groundworks expertise that transformed our capability. That's how we operate: invest in people, value outside experience, build for the future.
The highest technical standards
The rigour required for Stirling Prize-winning architectural concrete informs everything we do. Dimensional accuracy, concrete behaviour, quality control aren't optional extras, they're baseline standards across all our work.
60th Anniversary
In 2026, Whelan & Grant celebrates 60 years of concrete expertise. Six decades of technical delivery, client relationships, and continuous evolution.
The business John Whelan and Martin Grant founded remains in their families, backed by the financial stability and long-term vision that allows us to invest in the future. Sixty years of history. Positioned for the next sixty
Our journey
60 years of concrete expertise
1966: the begining
John Whelan and Martin Grant met on a construction site in Basingstoke. Both from Ireland, they started as labour-only subcontractors before expanding into full concrete packages. The company they founded remains in their families today.
1968:
Didcot Power Station
1972:
London Weekend Television building
1972:
Charing Cross Hospital
2004:RIBA London Building of the Year
Allies and Morrison Building.
2008:
Stirling Prize win for Maggie’s Centre at Charing Cross Hospital
2014:
Concrete Society Award -
WWF Woking
WWF Headquarters in Woking wins Concrete Society Concrete of the Year Award. High-quality fairface work continues to define the business.
2023:
University of Warwick Awarded the RIBA National Award
2024:
concrete society award
Project Birchwood Fairfaced RC Frame was highly commended in the concrete society awards 2024
2024:
Recent Project TVP
2025:
Recent project Hopescourt
2026:
60 years and counting
Whelan & Grant celebrates 60 years of concrete expertise. From labour-only subcontractors in Basingstoke to award-winning specialists delivering complete concrete packages across the South East. Founder-owned and forward-looking to the next 60 years.
Talk to us about your next project.
