In our latest member spotlight interview, we caught up with Adrian Oulds, Business Director at Carnell, to talk all things highways, innovation, and what it takes to keep the UK’s roads running smoothly.
From Local Roots to Part of a Bigger Group
Q: Can you tell us about Carnell’s journey and how it came to become part of the wider RENEW Group?
Adrian: “Carnell’s been around for over 30 years, and in that time, we’ve built up a really broad range of engineering services. Up until 2020 we were privately owned, focused mainly on highways maintenance, supporting local highway authorities and tier 1 contractors for what was then Highways England.
Along the way, we’ve always been looking for ways to do things better, especially around sustainability and safety. That’s where innovations like SafetyCam, SmartScan and StoneMaster came from. All of these are now featured on the LCRIG Innovation Procurement System, which we’re really proud of.
Since 2016, we’ve been working directly for National Highways as a tier 1 contractor through their Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF). That success meant the business grew and, by 2020, we became a strong fit for Renew Holdings Plc. Now, as part of Renew, we benefit from the expertise and strength of nine other specialist subsidiaries, all focused on keeping the UK’s critical infrastructure working. Carnell leads on highway maintenance within that group, and it’s helped us go from strength to strength.”
All Under One Roof: The Self-Delivery Advantage
Q: Carnell now delivers everything from drainage and recycling to technology, lighting, and structures. How does having these capabilities in-house help local authorities?
Adrian: At our core, we’re a self‑delivery contractor. We work directly with highway authorities as a tier 1 contractor, and sometimes as a sub‑contractor too. Our in‑house teams cover everything from structures maintenance and drainage to civil engineering, lighting, barriers and fencing.
Having all those skills under one roof makes a real difference. It lets us prioritise safety and quality while staying flexible. Whether we’re working to a tight programme or responding to changing requirements, we can adapt.
People often think of us first as a drainage contractor, and with good reason. We take real pride in helping authorities understand the condition of their drainage assets, pinpoint problems, and get repairs delivered efficiently. Having the capability all under one roof makes that possible.
Strengthening Bridges and Structures Expertise
Q: The acquisition of Route One in 2024 expanded Carnell’s bridges and structures capability. How does this support local authorities?
Adrian: “Structures maintenance is a very specialist field, things like installing bridge joints and waterproofing. That’s exactly what Route One Infrastructure (R1i) does best. Bringing them into the Carnell family was a perfect fit.
Local authorities face ageing structures and growing inspection and maintenance demands. R1i regularly works with them early on to find the right engineering solutions. They genuinely cover the full spectrum, from major jobs like the joint replacements on the M6 Bromford Viaduct (the longest viaduct in Britain) to smaller planned works and reactive emergencies.
Basically, they help authorities stay on top of their structures portfolios, whatever the scale of the challenge.”
Innovation in Safety: The Story Behind SafetyCam
Q: What prompted the development of SafetyCam, and how does it protect road workers and communities?
Adrian: “SafetyCam was born back in 2014 to tackle traffic management incursions. Drivers ignoring cones or barriers were putting road workers in real danger. So, we developed a camera system using ANPR technology to capture those vehicles and act as a strong visual deterrent.
It really works. When SafetyCam is in place, driver compliance with temporary speed limits improves dramatically. Over the years, we’ve added more uses: monitoring site speed limits, tracking diversion routes, gathering traffic counts, and carrying out analysis.
It’s a really versatile tool with a lot to offer urban local authorities too such as school parking compliance and helping analyse traffic on busy urban corridors.
While we’re not an enforcement authority, SafetyCam does help provide prosecution-ready evidence for the police. In the last 10 years, data from SafetyCam has helped secure 496 successful motoring convictions and supported the issue of 812 warning letters. But the real win is that its presence practically eliminates incursions, which is exactly why we designed it.”
Quality, Safety, and Programme Certainty
Q: How does Carnell’s self-delivery model give local authorities confidence around quality, safety, and programme delivery?
Adrian: “Our reputation is everything. We follow our BSI ISO 45001 accredited health and safety management system, and our 17 consecutive RoSPA Gold Awards reflect that commitment. Teams know they can STOP work immediately if something doesn’t feel safe.
Quality works the same way. Every scheme has a bespoke Inspection Test Plan – like recipes for doing things properly. If anything isn’t clear, operatives are encouraged to PAUSE for quality.
Because we self-deliver, our teams are involved early in planning. They help set realistic outputs and make sure the programme is achievable. Getting their buy‑in from the start makes delivery smoother for everyone.”
Bringing National Highways Experience to Local Roads
Q: You also work on the Strategic Road Network (SRN). How does that experience benefit local roads?
Adrian: “We often say we can self-deliver almost every aspect of highway maintenance except carriageway surfacing and traffic management.
We’re accredited to ISO 44001, so collaboration comes naturally, whether with clients, partners, or the communities living near our works. On the SRN, National Highways puts the customer front and centre, and we bring that same mindset to local roads. Good communication, minimal surprises, and delivering what we promise really matters.
Clients tell us they value that approach because it reduces disruption and helps maintain trust with local communities.”
Thank you to Adrian for sharing his insights into Carnell’s journey, innovation, and commitment to safety and quality.
To learn more, visit Carnell’s website.