An Andover electrical engineering company that began around a kitchen table is celebrating its tenth anniversary by announcing plans to create 10 new jobs in the town.
Deltic Solutions was launched in 2016 by local couple Jessica and Scott Alexander-Smith from their Andover home.
A decade later, the company operates from Walworth Business Park, employs a team of 12 and works with some of the biggest names in the country, including Jaguar Land Rover, British Gas, Ocado, Pets at Home and Arnold Clark.
Now, as it marks 10 years in business, Deltic Solutions has revealed plans for its next stage of growth, including a move to larger premises and the creation of 10 additional jobs across engineering, compliance and support roles.
The company has also expanded into the growing energy transition sector, recently reaching the milestone of connecting its 1,000th electric vehicle charger to the national grid.
Scott Alexander-Smith said: “When Jessica and I started Deltic Solutions in 2016, we genuinely had no idea where it would lead.
“We certainly didn’t imagine that ten years later we’d be growing from such a strong foundation and planning to create another ten jobs.
“The strange thing is that, despite everything the team has achieved, it feels like we’re only just getting started.”
A decade of rapid growth
The company’s journey has seen it grow from a small local operation into a rapidly expanding electrical engineering business working across the south of England.
Deltic Solutions says it has recorded average annual growth of 34.7 per cent over the past five years and has been classified by Barclays as a rapid-growth business.
Its growth has also attracted approaches from established investment firms.
The journey, however, has not always been straightforward.
Deltic Solutions was still a relatively young business when the Covid-19 pandemic brought much of the country to a standstill.
Operations were initially paused as the founders dealt with lockdown restrictions and uncertainty over the future of the business, before members of the team were given key worker status.
Following the first lockdown period, the company was contracted to complete 318 jobs in a single week – its busiest week to date.
Scott said: “Covid was incredibly difficult for everyone, and we had to adapt quickly and be agile to support our team of key workers.
“To come through that period and have a week where we took on 318 jobs was a huge moment for us.
“It showed us that we were onto something and, most importantly, that our customers trusted us.”
Reaching the 10-year milestone is a significant achievement for any business.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that just 38.4 per cent of businesses survived to their fifth year, while only 4.9 per cent of businesses with 10 or more employees were classed as high-growth in 2024.
Deltic Solutions says its own growth has been particularly strong, recording average annual growth of 34.7 per cent over the past five years. The company has also been classified by Barclays as a rapid-growth business and has attracted approaches from established investment firms.
Helping power Britain’s electric future
One of the biggest changes over the past decade has been the type of work undertaken by the company.
Alongside traditional electrical work, Deltic Solutions has increasingly moved into commercial projects and energy transition, including the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and energy-efficient heating systems, as well as helping businesses move towards electrification.
This month, the team reached a major milestone after connecting its 1,000th electric vehicle charger to the national grid.
The company’s engineers have also recently been invited to provide industry consultation relating to the UK’s latest electrical regulations.
For a business that started from a kitchen table in Andover, being involved in discussions surrounding the future of electrical standards represents another significant milestone.
Jessica Alexander-Smith said: “We want to be right at the forefront of that change.
“We don’t want the next ten years to simply be a bigger version of the first ten. We want it to be something much more ambitious.”
Thousands apply to work for Andover company
Deltic Solutions says its growing reputation has also resulted in significant interest from people wanting to join the company.
Some vacancies have attracted more than 1,000 applications as candidates look for opportunities within an industry increasingly incorporating new technology and renewable energy.
Scott said: “There have been moments when we’ve looked at the applications coming in and thought, ‘How has this happened?’
“We’re a local Andover company. We aren’t a multinational. Yet we’ve had thousands of candidates wanting to come and work here.
“Ultimately, that’s down to the reputation our team has built, and we are lucky that they hold themselves to high standards. We couldn’t have achieved any of this without them.”
The company now intends to build on that interest by creating a further 10 jobs in Andover as part of its next phase of expansion.
Industry veteran joins the team
The company’s latest recruit is senior electrical engineer Anthony Williams, who has more than 35 years’ experience within the industry.
Mr Williams has worked for some of the electrical sector’s largest organisations and has previously been responsible for overseeing hundreds of engineers.
He has now joined Deltic Solutions as head of its compliance department and travels from the Bristol area to work with the Andover team.
He said: “I’ve spent 35 years in this industry and have worked for some very large companies.
“I’d heard of Deltic Solutions before I joined and was impressed by the reputation they had developed.
“When the opportunity came along, I wanted to be part of it. There is genuine ambition here, and I think the next ten years could be even more exciting than the first.”
From local homes to major national brands
The range of work undertaken by Deltic Solutions has changed considerably since the company was established in 2016.
Its team can be working in a local home one day and on a major commercial or specialist electrical project the next.
Alongside Jaguar Land Rover, British Gas, Ocado, Pets at Home and Arnold Clark, the company works with local and national estate agencies and has undertaken specialist projects for high-net-worth individuals and well-known faces across the south of England.
Its more unusual projects have even included work involving helicopter landing facilities.
Despite its growing list of major clients, the founders say maintaining the same standard of service for local customers remains central to the business.
Scott said: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a diverse range of customers.
“It’s exciting to work for major international organisations and high-profile individuals, and we’ve had some extraordinary experiences.
“But someone in Andover who needs an electrician to replace a light deserves exactly the same level of care as a multinational company commissioning a major project.”
That approach has become known within the company as ‘unexpected customer service’.
Engineering runs in the family
There is also a strong family connection behind the business.
Both Scott and Jessica have family histories in engineering stretching back generations.
Their relatives have been involved in major London data infrastructure projects, electrical projects for Louis Vuitton and the pioneering development of hydro-electric power in Africa.
Jessica said the company’s tenth anniversary therefore carries particular personal significance.
“Engineering has been part of our shared family history for generations,” she said.
“We even have some of my grandfather’s tools on display, which has sparked many a conversation. I’m proud to be carrying the engineering baton forwards for my family.”
Looking towards the next 10 years
Deltic Solutions’ growth has also brought industry recognition.
The company was named Electrician of the Year at this year’s Quality Business Awards, received an Award of Excellence from Bark.com and was nominated for a national Checkatrade Award.
The business will mark its tenth anniversary with celebrations involving its team and customers across Test Valley, but its founders say their focus is firmly on what comes next.
The company currently has a team of 12 and plans to relocate to larger premises as part of its expansion.
Scott said: “Ten years ago, we started with a kitchen table.
“Today we have a team of 12, customers across the south of England and some extraordinary organisations trusting us with their electrical projects.
“Now we’re going to further invest in our people and create another ten jobs here in Andover. That’s what we’re really excited about.”
The company’s longer-term ambition is to develop into a national electrical engineering business while keeping its headquarters in Andover and continuing to invest in local employment.
Jessica added: “The first ten years were about proving that we could build something special.
“The next ten are about seeing just how far we can take it.
“We want to build one of the most respected electrical engineering companies in the south of England – and we want to do it right here in Andover.”