Our Story
where it all started
Our Story
Formed in 1972, by Chairman John J Whelan, Natta Building Company is a privately owned Limited Company. John learnt the business from the ground up starting as a pipe-layer and ground-worker before trading in his shovel for a JCB.
1972
2022
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
STARTING OUT
From those humble beginnings, Natta quickly gained a reputation for being able to tackle complex groundworks. First major contract awarded at British Car Auctions in Blackbushe. Today, Natta still adopts those ‘hands-on’ principles which were responsible for its early success.
1972
1980
Natta Country Homes
1982
During those formative years the company continued to grow year on year. In 1982 John diversified into housing development. Securing his first major property deal in Liskeard, Cornwall, he created the second company within the Group, Natta Country Homes.
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1980
1990
natta plant
1988
With continued growth, in 1988, Natta Plant was created. John realised that to compete at the next level and to keep hire costs down, owning machinery was key. Today the Group owns one of the largest private plant fleets in Southern England.
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1980
1990
expanding the family business
1992
John E Whelan joined the family business in 1992. After many summer holidays working on site, he graduated from university before becoming part of the Natta team. Following in his father's footsteps, he worked his way up whilst developing an in-depth knowledge of construction. He learnt all the aspects of work required to deliver a successful project.
1990
2000
construction industry safety training centre
2004
In 2004, John E Whelan added a construction training business, CISTC. Understanding that one of the keys to success is the need for highly-skilled workers - how best to ensure this than by training and growing our own talented workforce. Today CISTC not only provides Natta employees with the skills they need but also offers a wide range of construction courses directly to the industry.
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2000
2010
surrey training group
2017
Following on from the success of CISTC, we noticed that within the Surrey and West Sussex area there was a direct need for companies within the construction industry to improve their staff training and development. To help bridge this gap, partnering with CITB, in 2017 the Surrey Training Group was formed.
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2010
2022
Natta geo-environmental contracting
2018
With our extensive Groundworks and Civil Engineering experience, Natta has encountered and managed many conditions across UK soils, using remediation where necessary to deliver construction on time. Natta's Geo-Environmental division was created to market our offering to the industry with a stronger cohesive approach.
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2010
2022
Natta utilities division
2019
In our Group's one-stop-solution capability, we are able to provide full package construction for the on and off site installation of gas, electric and water. Our accreditations enable us to install utilities in conjunction with main infrastructure, which can be a problematic interface.
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2010
2022
picked up a few awards
recognitions
Recognised for our industry-leading work over the years, we are proud to have won several coveted awards. These include ‘Best Independent Living Scheme’ at the Pinders Design Awards for our care home development in Northampton, Gold awards at the internationally renowned, RoSPA Health & Safety Awards as well as 'Supply Chain Partner of the Year' by Wates Group.
2010
2022
safety first - proudest achievement
6,000,000+
Over the years, we have continued to enforce our most important site safety message of 'Safe Home Every Day'. Our proudest achievement was reaching over 6,000,000 hours worked without a reportable accident, our first-class safety record is our businesses highest priority.
2017
2022
50 years strong
2022
With our robust senior management team and our dedicated and resilient workforce we are well placed to accelerate our growth and turnover in the coming years. We can't wait to see what the future holds for the Natta Group - here's to the next 50 years!
2022
Our Story – Where it all started
Founded in 1972, Natta began as a small civil engineering firm with a clear vision — to deliver quality, innovation, and integrity across every project. Over five decades later, the Natta Group has grown into a respected multi-disciplinary contractor operating throughout Southern England and the Home Counties.
Our expertise now spans civil engineering, groundworks, infrastructure, and design and build solutions. Despite our growth, we’ve remained true to our founding values: building long-term relationships, investing in our people, and delivering projects safely, sustainably, and to the highest standards.
Today, Natta stands as a trusted partner to developers, Tier 1 contractors, and local authorities, recognised for our technical excellence, collaborative approach, and commitment to continuous improvement.
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