Our 95 Year Pipeline

WJ Shirley has been in operation for nearly 100 years. 

First associated with building houses – which obviously require drainage – and then through expansion, identifying opportunities and technological advances, it has evolved into the business and services we offer today. 

Chapter 2 – The Revolution of WJ Shirley & Son

1960 marked the beginning of the drainage services.

WJ Shirley were asked to perform a drainage inspection, which was continued alongside the general building work.

This was until Hillier Park requested a drainage inspection and offered 4 times the usual price! So then the focus shifted to purely drainage services.

By the 1980s, the largest client was Hillier Park – today part of CBRE. Many of jobs however, were residential properties due to the property boom. During those times, houses were relatively cheap but drainage repairs were costly and could present a significant proportion of the sale price and were often a condition of a mortgage agreement. So having the drainage system in correct working order was a priority for insurance companies.

Seymour excelled at quality, reliability and customer service laying the foundations of the business we have today.

Chapter 3 – Digital Transformation of WJ Shirley LLP

The current Director, Rob Shirley, began working full time for the family business in 2003. The business comprised of two people, Rob and Seymour (and at times helped by other family members Andrew and Margaret) who mapped out the drainage systems using a pen and waterproof paper, whilst subcontracting the camera work and the repairs. From the beginning, the ethos was to provide a cost-effective, professional service which exceeded client satisfaction. Values that we still stand by today.

Seymour continued working on site until his late 70s but eventually retired being replaced by Rob and Alan Larsen, Rob and Tat Whalley (a part-time actor who has appeared in a host of TV shows and films including The Bill, Silent Witness and a Touch of Frost) and later Rob and Mike.

Chapter 4 – The Pandemic Struck WJ Shirley Ltd

The Covid Pandemic brought a lot of change to the world that still impacts us all now.

For WJ Shirley is was a positive – it brought growth and change.

Office based teams were brought in to assist with the consultancy and report writing. In addition to developing relationships with clients and co-ordinate the ever growing teams.

Chapter 5 – Where we are today – WJ Shirley Consultancy Ltd & WJ Shirley Civils Ltd

Now, WJ Shirley has 10 (including Civils) teams of highly trained drainage specialists who undertake every aspect of the work from mapping, to camera work, to repairs, and are equipped with the latest technology.

The office team has expanded and evolved, always upholding our core values of providing a helpful, professional and client-centred approach. Our ever-growing client portfolio consists of the Uk’s largest and most well respected building consultancies and investors who repeatedly trust us with their drainage systems.

We have clear ambition for the future; to continue to deliver the highest quality service, setting the standard for drainage advice, consultancy and contracting services, establishing ourselves as the industry leader.