Murphy is a leading international, multi-disciplined engineering and construction company founded in 1951 that improves life by delivering world-class infrastructure.
Operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and the USA, Murphy provides better engineered solutions to infrastructure sectors including transportation, water, power and natural resources. We also have a number of related businesses – Ground Engineering; Utility Connections; Murphy Plant; Murphy Process Engineering; Pipeline Testing Services; Specialist Welding Services and Electrical Services.
Murphy is a specialist in delivering pipelines, design, structural steel, tunnelling, fabrication, bridges and piling, and has a substantial holding of plant, equipment and facilities.
Murphy employs more than 4,000 engineers, professional managers and skilled operatives around the world. Together, we work as ‘One Murphy’ by directly delivering the people, plant and expertise needed to make projects a success.
You can use the timeline below to learn more about our history and journey to becoming the leading family-owned construction company.
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An early realisation of the need for ready mixed concrete, which fuelled the green light for motorway construction at the end of the decade, led to a long standing involvement supplying the product through premixed concrete. This included sourcing sea-dredged aggregates using the company owned dredger and wharf facility at Charlton.
In 1951, John Murphy established J. Murphy & Sons Limited. Initially working on post-war regeneration projects, the focus soon switched to the specialist reconstruction of the country’s electrical infrastructure, including the growing General Post Office (GPO) telephone cable network.
The 1960s saw Murphy become involved in road expansion programmes, water services and Post Office cable installation. The company also diversified into petrol stations and car show rooms, owning four across London, including a Ford dealership in Enfield.
In 1965, Murphy Pipelines was established, offering design and construction services for gas, oil, water and process industries.
In 1968, Bernard Murphy, son of John Murphy, founded the Irish branch of Murphy and our operations in the country have been based in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, ever since.
Murphy established a close working relationship with Thames Water after its creation in 1974. They are a valued client that enjoy a successful business relationship with Murphy to this day.
The 1970s also saw the start of the company’s involvement in National Rail reconstruction projects, first with British Rail and continuing today with Network Rail.
During the 1970s, the introduction of natural gas pipelines in the UK and Ireland was amongst one of the greatest infrastructure achievements. The result truly resonated with the company’s mission to improve life by building world-class infrastructure.
In 1980, Murphy undertook major developments across London, including the construction of a tunnel and track to link Stansted Airport to the rail network.
By 1984, the company had outgrown its offices at Highbury Corner and relocated to new headquarters at Hiview House in Kentish Town, where it continues to be based today.
In 1989, the company's significant contribution to the gas industry resulted in the election of John Murphy as a fellow, by the Institute of Gas Engineers. This was awarded for service to the gas industry.
In 1994, Murphy started work on the London water ring main, constructing two major sections of this extensive and essential infrastructure project. The company won the coveted British Construction Industry award in the civil engineering category, for achievements on the London water ring main project.
As a result of the long standing support of the University College Cork (UCC) department of civil and environmental engineering, a new laboratory was named after John Murphy in 1995 and a plaque was unveiled in 1996.
In 2000, Murphy started construction of the Channel Tunnel rail link in a joint venture with Hochtief. The project involved the construction of twin tunnels under the River Thames.
Murphy was awarded the contract for the design and construction of the £150m Brecon to Tirley gas pipeline in 2005. This was followed by Murphy winning the major contract for constructing the Olympic Park in 2006. Its scope was to construct the major cable tunnels and substations required to power the event.
On 7 May 2009, John Murphy passed away at the age of 95 at his home in London surrounded by his family. He left an enduring legacy.
Following the success of the Channel Tunnel, in 2012 Murphy in joint venture with Hochtief secured contracts working on Crossrail. This included constructing the £250m tunnel section between Plumstead and North Woolwich.
Our involvement in North America begins in 2014 with the formation of Surerus-Murphy, a fully integrated joint venture between Murphy and Surerus Pipeline Inc which carries out large-diameter pipeline construction throughout Western Canada for the oil and gas industries.
Murphy further enhanced its capabilities through acquisitions in 2017 of AECOM in Ireland and subsequently the power sector of Carillion in 2018.
In February 2023 Murphy was named the '#1 Best Big Company to Work For' by Best Companies, based on employee feedback.
In 2023 we expanded our Canadian operations into the rail infrastructure sector in Toronto, with the formation of Kenaidan-Murphy Joint Venture.
The Surerus-Murphy team celebrated a collection of impressive project milestones, including the final mainline tie-in on the Trans Mountain expansion project. This was the culmination of a 184km spread and multi-year journey.
Through our Surerus-Murphy JV we expanded our growth into the USA with the acquisition of WHC Energy Services in October 2023. This has given us access to one of the world’s major oil and gas sectors, and advances our ambition to be a valued partner to our customers as we navigate the energy transition.
As part of our commitment to the growth of our communities we opened new Steel Fabrication and Pipe Fabrication & Testing facilities at our Newbridge location, which together will create 70 jobs by 2029. These facilities will support projects across all areas of Murphy, regardless of location or sector.
As a result of our long-standing customer relationships and history of successful project delivery, all areas of Murphy have enjoyed some major project wins in the last year including: being named as part of National Grid's Great Grid Upgrade; £200 million worth of contracts for the construction of Cambridge South and Beaulieu Park stations; the Uisce Éireann Hybrid 2 Project and, with our joint venture partner Bouygues Travaux Publics, the tunnelling contract for the planned Lower Thames Crossing.
