Testing, inspection and certification firms to acquire in the UK

Name: Testing, inspection and certification firms to acquire in the UK
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a testing, inspection or certification firm in the UK? Firmbase ranks 751 testing, inspection and certification firms using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 10 staff and has been in business for 16 years; 11 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

Laboratories, inspection firms and certification bodies provide different forms of evidence about products, processes and services, and this list spans those specialisms. The scope of any claimed accreditation is a key check for someone acquiring a testing and inspection business. Examine the tests, inspections or certificates clients commission, because accreditation for one activity does not establish competence across every service a firm offers.

Bring accredited methods into a wider testing group

The value of a technical firm rests on the methods it can perform and sustain. Firmbase covers 751 UK limited-company and LLP testing, inspection and certification businesses with five or more staff. The ranking is a first filter for ownership and size before technical due diligence. Site location matters most where customers bring samples or equipment to a laboratory.

The company register helps map independent operators and firms owned by another company. Testing, inspection and certification firms here have a median staff count of 10. One person holds 75% or more in 23% of the firms here. An owner's intentions appear in no filing. Treat public company signals as a way to order conversations, while technical competence needs its own review.

A buyer can group candidates by the capabilities their current sites need, then compare the work actually performed. Trace how methods, equipment and staff authorisations are maintained at each site. Identify customer work that depends on a particular facility or specialist. The Approach Score cannot establish laboratory quality or the scope of a certificate.

Firmbase offers a sourcing tool for technical firms, not a list of businesses for sale. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the UK's national accreditation body, and it publishes a schedule for each organisation it accredits. Check the current schedule and any relevant appointment or approval, along with equipment, key staff and independence requirements. Confirm which customer contracts depend on an accredited activity before assigning value to continuing work.

751

Firms

28%

Every director 55+

23%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£500k to £1m

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

11 firms owned by 1 group that has bought several firms in this sector. That is 1% of this list.

Key facts

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the UK's national accreditation body for testing, inspection and certification activities. Department for Business and Trade

Accreditation assesses the competence of bodies carrying out conformity assessment activities. Department for Business and Trade

Accreditation is used in both regulated and voluntary sectors to show that testing and certification bodies are competent. Department for Business and Trade

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	Retrofit Solutions Warrington, Cheshire	Approach Score 91/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £415k Net assets £74k (Jul 2025) Director resigned Mar 2025 Company no. 04121692 · Companies House retrofitsolutions.ltd
2	RCD Lockinge Wantage, Oxfordshire	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £1.3m Net assets £1.3m (Mar 2026) Company no. 09088154 · Companies House rcd-lockinge.co.uk
3	Alvi Health & Safety Ilford, Essex	Approach Score 86/100	In post since 2016 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £152k Net assets £3k (Jan 2026) Director resigned Sep 2026 · PSC register changed Oct 2026 Company no. 09941860 · Companies House alvihsc.com
4	Pattco Wimborne, Dorset.	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £477k Net assets £67k (Apr 2025) Charge satisfied Nov 2025 Company no. 05777773 · Companies House pattco.co.uk
5	IoTAS Cambridge, Cambridgeshire	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £285k Net assets £265k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04934600 · Companies House iotas-global.com
6	Covol Engineering Billingham	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2018 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £928k Net assets £222k (Dec 2025) Charge satisfied Nov 2025 Company no. 11184319 · Companies House covol.co.uk
7	Indei Swindon, Wiltshire	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £261k Net assets £129k (Dec 2025) Company no. 04329627 · Companies House indei.global
8	Vibration Monitoring Services Sheerness, Kent	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover £406k Net assets £609k (Oct 2025) Company no. 05595148 · Companies House vibrationmonitoringservices.co.uk
9	Hixtra Milton Keynes	Approach Score 84/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2015 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £575k (Mar 2026) Company no. 09398119 · Companies House hixtra.com
10	Black Lion MOT Gillingham, Kent	Approach Score 84/100	2 directors aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £320k Net assets £137k (Jul 2025) Company no. 09150761 · Companies House blacklionmot.co.uk
11	A 1 Tachograph Services Pontypridd	Approach Score 84/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2007 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £525k Net assets £502k (Mar 2026) Company no. 06323192 · Companies House a1tachographs.co.uk
12	GEO-4D Faringdon, Oxfordshire	Approach Score 84/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2013 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £913k Net assets £543k (Mar 2026) Company no. 08433858 · Companies House geo-4d.com
13	Bradgate In-situ Testing Ltd Rotherham, South Yorkshire	Approach Score 84/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2015 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £186k Net assets £13k (Apr 2025) Company no. 09559638 · Companies House bradgatetesting.co.uk
14	Calbarrie Compliance Services Glasgow	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2008 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £612k Net assets £191k (Jan 2025) Company no. SC338205 · Companies House calbarrie.com/calbarrie-glasgow
15	Silsoe Spray Applications Unit Bedford, Bedfordshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2015 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £337k Net assets £107k (Dec 2025) Director resigned Dec 2024 Company no. 09903411 · Companies House ssau.co.uk
16	Materials Engineering & Testing Worcester	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2014 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £469k Net assets £88k (Apr 2025) Company no. 09013865 · Companies House metltd.co.uk
17	Applied Geology Warwick, Warwickshire	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2009 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 26 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £684k (Jun 2026) Company no. 06882453 · Companies House appliedgeology.co.uk
18	Rhealto Petersfield, Hampshire	Approach Score 83/100	2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 1998 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £696k Net assets £315k (Apr 2025) PSC register changed Dec 2025 Company no. 03543342 · Companies House rheologyschool.com
19	Safety Check Engineering Haywards Heath, West Sussex	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £545k Net assets £117k (Sep 2024) Company no. 04542893 · Companies House safetycheckengineering.co.uk
20	Reliability Maintenance Solutions Warrington, Cheshire	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 1999 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £1.7m Net assets £1.9m (Jul 2025) Company no. 03808313 · Companies House
21	Perry Analytical Fareham, Hampshire	Approach Score 82/100	In post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £194k Net assets £11k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04353955 · Companies House perryanalytical.com
22	Inidam Romsey, Hampshire	Approach Score 82/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2007 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £725k Net assets £2.1m (Jan 2026) Company no. 06351202 · Companies House inidam.com
23	PTM Calibration Belfast	Approach Score 82/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2004 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £249k Net assets £188k (Aug 2025) Company no. NI049249 · Companies House ptmcalibration.co.uk
24	Hibec Henley-in-Arden	Approach Score 81/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2008 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £269k Net assets £96k (Apr 2026) Company no. 06482496 · Companies House hibec.co.uk
25	Fumex Hope Valley	Approach Score 81/100	2 directors aged 70 or over · longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 20 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £1.3m (Dec 2025) Company no. 05224923 · Companies House fumexltd.co.uk

726 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 751 for £799 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 751 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

The score and the firm

Approach Score

The facts behind the score

Points for each part of the score

Financials with dates

Website

Publicly available contact details, where identified

Directors and shareholders

Director names

Director birth month and year

Director appointment dates

Named shareholders with more than 25%, with ownership bands

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

Frequently asked questions

What approach is suitable for a testing business owner?

Open by identifying yourself and the technical work your organisation understands. State that you found the owner's details on the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Explain how to object to your use of those details and stop if they do. Before any phone contact, check both the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service. Keep claims about accreditation out of an initial approach until checked.

How do I check the scope of accreditation?

The UK government identifies the United Kingdom Accreditation Service as its national accreditation body. Ask for the current accreditation schedule and compare its defined activities with the services sold to customers. A certificate for one activity should not be treated as evidence for every test or inspection the firm performs. Check whether customer contracts or regulatory appointments depend on a particular accredited scope.

Department for Business and Trade

How can the Approach Score guide a laboratory search?

The methodology page describes the public ownership and company records used in the Approach Score. Use the ranking to select firms for further study, then examine accredited scopes, equipment and staff authorisations separately. A place in this list cannot tell you whether a test method fits your organisation. It also cannot tell you whether the firm's owner would ever discuss a deal.

How can I assess the cost of laboratory equipment?

List major instruments by method, age, ownership and maintenance arrangement. Compare calibration, servicing and replacement plans with the work customers commission. Some equipment may be leased or tied to a particular site, so check the legal and practical position before assigning it value. Staff competence and authorised methods matter alongside the hardware; a machine alone does not create an accredited service.

How this list is filtered

Active on Companies House. Companies in liquidation, administration, receivership or a voluntary arrangement, or with a proposal to strike off, are left out.
Dormant companies are left out.
Firms whose owners asked to be removed are left out.
Private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies only. Sole traders and partnerships are not covered.
Firmbase industry tag: Testing, Inspection & Certification.
SIC code 71200 or 71122.
5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the UK.

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

We cover limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on Companies House, so they are not here. Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Check UKAS accreditation through its accredited bodies directory and read the accreditation schedule. Accreditation covers a defined scope of work, rather than every service a firm offers.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

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