About us

What we do

COOMBES Group is a trusted and dependable provider of specialist services to the Rail and Forestry sectors. For over twenty years, we have been committed to delivering excellent results for our clients, utilising innovative plant and machinery and industry-leading expertise.

By working collaboratively and operating as one team, we can effectively self-deliver a wide range of projects and provide truly innovative and efficient solutions that surpass our client's expectations. We have a strong record of success and are committed to meeting the growing demands for safe and efficient delivery.

Our Group

Five divisions, one team.

COOMBES Forestry

Forestry

From woodland creation to timber harvesting and marketing, we help some of the largest landowners in the south of the UK to sustainably manage their forests and woodlands.

COOMBES Arboriculture

Arboriculture

As one of the leading contractors in tree and vegetation management, we offer a comprehensive range of arboricultural services to support the transformation and maintenance of the UK's railway infrastructure.

COOMBES Civils

Civils

Providing design, project management and delivery of assured, cost-effective minor works, including the inspection, maintenance, and refurbishment of lineside buildings and structures, as well as providing geotechnical, earthworks, and drainage solutions.

COOMBES Environmental

Environmental

Our Environmental team, consisting of experienced and CIEEM-accredited ecologists, provide a full range of environmental services to all projects, with a focus on enhancing biodiversity and maintaining sustainability.

COOMBES Plant

Plant

Our fleet of modern On-Track Plant assists with maintenance, renewal and emergency projects throughout the UK. We also provide a complete Plant Operating Scheme (POS) Management Service, including the hire of our POS Licence.

COOMBES Group Head Office - Petersfield, Hampshire.
COOMBES Head office

Our Vision and Values

Delivering excellence.

We strive to be market leaders in the sectors in which we operate. We believe that this can only be achieved through the hard work, dedication, and integrity of our people. We take ownership of our actions and are committed to delivering excellence in everything we do.

Excellence

To the best of our ability, we strive to be excellent in everything we do by empowering and supporting our people to deliver their best work. By providing training and resources, we ensure that our team has the skills and support they need to excel in their roles.

Integrity

Operate with honesty, transparency, and integrity. By upholding these values, we strive to create a business that is safe, respected, trusted, and sustainable.

Ownership

We take responsibility for our actions and proactively approach our work to meet the needs of our clients and projects. Drawing on our expertise and experience, we are able to anticipate and address any challenges that may arise, taking control of the situation to deliver excellent work consistently.

Innovation

In order for us to remain competitive, it is essential that we continue to find new and innovative ways to improve our products, services, and overall approach to doing business.

Collaboration

By working collaboratively, we are able to combine our strengths and expertise to achieve better outcomes. We believe in the power of teamwork and actively seek to share ideas and collaborate to deliver the best results for our projects and clients.

Safety

Safety is our absolute number one priority. We believe that safety is a shared responsibility and work together to create a safe work environment. We are committed to ensuring that everyone returns home safely at the end of the workday.

Our clients

Our History

Celebrating 20 years and still growing strong.

COOMBES careers

1990

When Jack and Shane Coombes were 9 and 11 years old, they began their first job in forestry, working on an estate in Dorset during their school's half-term break. Their tasks included "brashing," or cutting back trees. As a reward for their hard work, they were allowed to fish in a nearby lake that they had been admiring all week.

COOMBES careers

1999

After gaining experience in forestry at a young age, Jack and Shane pursued further education in engineering and forestry management at college while continuing to work part-time in the industry. Upon completing their studies, they expanded their business and began taking on forestry projects as sub-contractors across the South East.

COOMBES careers

2002

Motivated to start their own business, Jack and Shane founded Coombes Forestry from a home office. They quickly gained traction, winning their first contract with the Forestry Commission for hand-cutting over a 5-year period. This early success helped establish Coombes Forestry

2004

In order to diversify and expand its services, Coombes Forestry began sub-contracting for vegetation clearance in the rail sector. To support this growth, they invested in the company and hired their first employee, Matt Snow, who has remained with the company for 17 years. More recently, Charlie Snow, Matt's son, joined the company on a college placement and has since become a full-time employee.

2009

To support the company's ongoing growth and success, Coombes Forestry became incorporated. This legal structure allowed the company to more effectively manage its operations and resources more, enabling us to continue expanding and serving its customers.

2012

Coombes Forestry achieved its first accreditation, ISO 90001 for Quality Management, a testament to the company's commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. This achievement demonstrated Coombes Forestry's dedication to meeting the highest standards in quality management and customer satisfaction.

2014

Coombes Forestry's growth continued as the company successfully tendered for a spot on the Network Rail framework. As a result, the company established itself as a Tier One contractor in Wessex and a Tier Two contractor in the Southeast and Western regions for vegetation clearance. This achievement further solidified Coombes Forestry's position as a trusted and dependable provider of these services to the rail industry.

2017

We focus on expanding the forestry side of the business and invest heavily in efficient and cleaner forestry machinery. The efforts were recognised when we won a 5-year harvesting contract with Forestry England, the largest of its kind in South England. These achievements demonstrate Coombes Forestry's dedication to staying at the industry's forefront and providing its clients with the best possible services.

2019

Coombes Forestry is awarded a contract to work on the HS2 project as a subcontractor to Fusion. To support this project, the company added its first two Road Rail Vehicles to its fleet. In addition, we obtained our full Network Rail POS license, demonstrating the company's commitment to meeting all necessary safety and regulatory requirements.

2021

We continue to experience success in our efforts to secure contracts on Network Rail frameworks, being awarded spots on the framework for five regions: Western, Southern (Wessex & SE), Eastern (South), Eastern (Central), and West Coast Mainline. This represents an expansion from the two regions that we were previously on, allowing us to further grow our presence and reach in the rail industry.

2022

Coombes has seen significant growth in a short period of time. Over the last two years, our turnover has increased from £12m with 37 employees, to a turnover of £44m and 62 employees.

We continue to invest heavily in our people, and technology, ensuring that we remain as market leaders in both forestry, and rail.

COOMBES Leadership team

Meet the team

Shane Coombes

Shane Coombes

Managing Director
Jack Coombes

Jack Coombes

Operations Director
Kevin Coltart

Kevin Coltart

Business Development Manager
Kim Coombes

Kim Coombes

Senior Quality & Office Manager
Emily Dow

Emily Dow

Senior HR Manager
Sandip Patel

Sandip Patel

Chief Technology Officer
Careers at COOMBES Group

Careers at COOMBES

Join the team

We're always looking for new talent, and are passionate about supporting the professional growth of our colleagues and creating a working environment where you can be yourself.

If this is something you’d like to be part of, please reach out to us, we’d love to hear from you.

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Our Accreditations

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