Formed in 2017, Suction Excavation UK Ltd is a specialist in vacuum excavation. Headquartered in March, Cambridgeshire, and operating from multiple regional depots across the UK, the company is ideally positioned to offer nationwide coverage and a 24/7 call-out service.
Suction Excavation provides free site consultations anywhere in the UK, helping customers assess and plan their projects effectively. The company operates a fleet of vehicles ranging from 14 to 32 tonnes, with 24 suction excavators in daily use. Each machine is equipped with a wide range of fan configurations to meet diverse customer needs and applications.
Vacuum excavation is a relatively new technique that enhances excavation speed while significantly reducing health and safety risks. Instead of traditional digging methods, a high-powered suction system is used to remove unwanted materials - both solid and liquid - from the site.
By combining high-volume airflow with a team of highly trained specialists, surveyors, operators, and engineers, Suction Excavation delivers projects across the UK. Its work spans sectors including civil engineering, highways, railways, utilities, and airports. Clients include Network Rail, Story Plant, Carney Plant, Murphy’s, Crown Highways, Prestige Pipelines, Danaher & Walsh, M. Lambe, Bateman, C3, Moortown, and Carnell.
At the core of Suction Excavation’s success is its commitment to providing a reputable and reliable service, much of which is repeat business. This is made possible by its extensive fleet and dedicated team. Managing Director Kev Burke brings over 30 years of industry experience and is widely recognised as a pioneer in the excavation sector.
The company’s relationship with Compass began through Lauren Duke, who joined as a Finance Specialist the business in early 2025. Lauren had already worked with Suction Excavation for more than four years, building a strong and trusted partnership.
“Whatever my funding needs, I always find them through Lauren,” said Kev. “She delivers, and it’s a personal bond - Lauren is more like a friend. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and always goes out of her way to find the best funding opportunities. Whenever I need finance, Lauren goes the extra mile to ensure I get the best terms available.”
Kev continued, “There’s a great relationship, and Lauren is always at the end of the phone. The fact that she’s now with Compass is a big advantage because she can tap into their market expertise to find the best offers available.”
Over the past two years, Suction Excavation’s turnover has quadrupled to £10 million. A key factor in this growth has been the financing of 24 suction excavation units, each costing £500,000. Additional funding was also secured for a major refurbishment of the company’s headquarters in early 2025.
“Without the finance, we couldn’t have achieved what we have,” said Kev. “It’s been essential to building a very successful business. The relationship with Lauren and Compass is very strong. Lauren will continue to be my partner in finance. Something would have to go drastically wrong for me to ever look anywhere else.”
Kev added, “I have an extremely busy work life. With Lauren and Compass, everything is explained clearly, and they provide me with the documents ready to sign. All the paperwork is complete—they’ve done all the hard work. That’s incredibly reassuring when I’m really pushed for time.”
