BAM Nuttall

The company was founded by James Nuttall Senior in Manchester in 1865. Its initial activities centred around road and sewerage works. Within its first few decades of operations, it undertook various major engineering works associated with infrastructure developments, such as the Manchester Ship Canal (opened in 1894) and the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (opened in 1898).

During 1902, management of the company changed when James Nuttall Senior brought his two sons, Sir Edmund Nuttall, 1st Baronet (1870–1923) and James Nuttall (1877–1957), into partnership with him, soon after trading under the name Edmund Nuttall & Company. Edmund played a key road in the development of the business following the death of James Nuttall Senior two years later. One particularly decisive contract was the majority of the civil engineering works associated with the construction of the Mersey Tunnel.

Throughout the interwar period, the company expanded into a nationwide enterprise, during which time it was headed by Sir Edmund's son, Sir Keith Nuttall, 2nd Baronet (1901–1941). Other members of the family that would be actively involved in the business was Sir Keith's brother Clive Nuttall (1906–1936) and their cousin (James Nuttall's son) Norman Nuttall (1907–1996). Early on in the Second World War, Sir Keith died in the line of duty with the Royal Engineers after having been severely wounded at Dunkirk; his shares in the business were inherited by his eight-year-old son, Sir Nicholas Nuttall, 3rd Baronet (1933–2007). Despite being the principal shareholder, Sir Nicholas did not play a management role in the company. During the Second World War, the company garnered numerous government contracts. Perhaps the most high-profile of these was its involvement in the building of the Mulberry harbour units alongside several other contractors. Other wartime undertakings included the construction of various Royal Ordnance Factories, underground magazines, and other defence works.

Following the conflict, the company's activities continued to grow in scope, working on the construction of numerous power stations and tunnels throughout the 1950 and 1960s. It was also involved in early efforts towards the construction of the Channel Tunnel.

In 1978, the company was bought by the Netherlands-based construction group Hollandsche Beton Groep (later HBG). One year later, Nuttall acquired rival company Mears. Various acquisitions occurred during the 1990s, including Hynes Construction (1992), John Martin Construction (1999) and Finchpalm Ltd (2000).

During 2002, HBG was acquired (and thus Edmund Nuttall as well) by Royal BAM Group in exchange for €715 million.

On 10 October 2008, Edmund Nuttall Limited changed its name to BAM Nuttall Limited.

During the early 21st century, BAM Nuttall established itself as the principal construction partner of Network Rail, the British railway infrastructure owner, the latter issuing work valued at upwards of £300 million to BAM Nuttall in 2023 alone on projects such as the Levenmouth rail link, Inverness Airport railway station, and the Dawlish sea wall. BAM Nuttall often pursues joint bids with various other companies; one such alliance of companies was appointed in 2017 as the preferred bidder for works as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade between Manchester and Leeds with a projected completion date of between 2036 and 2041. As part of a separate joint venture, BAM Nuttall is also involved in HS2 lots C2 and C3, which are due to complete in 2031.