Jones Bros contracts director in the spotlight on renewable energy projects18th Jul 2025

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK contracts director Eryl Roberts was at the centre of the conversation as GRID podcast delved into the cost of electrification and the challenges in delivering green electricity.

Eryl lent his technical expertise and knowledge to a panel that included figures from key renewable energy sector organisations RenewableUK Cymru and Green GEN Cymru.

The trio explored the direct technological costs of undergrounding versus overhead infrastructure and the economic cost of inaction during the Business News Wales-led programme that was hosted by former first minister of Wales, Lord Carwyn Jones.

Drawing upon his experience across a range of renewables schemes, Eryl also helped explore how insufficient grid access impacts Welsh businesses and how investor trust and confidence can be undermined following delays.

Eryl said: “The opportunity to discuss such a pressing topic in real depth with experts in the energy sector has been brilliant.

“At Jones Bros, we’ve taken on a variety of projects with challenges including live services, rail lines, water bodies, and steep gradients, so it’s been great to share our experience about the true cost of undergrounding with the listeners.”

Following on from the podcast recording, Eryl’s thoughts also feature in a column for Business News Wales, where he focuses on the importance of assessing the scale of land required, the expense of using directional drilling to avoid disrupting the surface, and the ease of carrying out long-term maintenance before committing to placing cables below ground.

“We play a key role in advising on feasibility, site constraints, and helping design solutions that fit both the land and the regulatory landscape,” he added.

“With the consideration of land use, such as whether it’s arable or grazing land and the implications for drainage and soil quality, you quickly start to see how complex even the early planning stages can be.

“Delivering a secure, resilient and sustainable energy system for the future will require more than just good intentions, it will require the right infrastructure, built the right way.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 40 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.