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Norwich-Based Lamberts Acquired By Cardiff’s The Flocon Group



Norwich-based industrial engineering supplier Lamberts has been acquired by South Wales’ Flocon Valves & Fittings Ltd.


Both businesses supply industrial engineering products, including valves, tube and pipeline fittings used for heating, water, steam and gas within manufacturing and industrial process systems and were known to each other prior to the transaction.


Lamberts, a company in which three generations of the same family had worked, was seeking a home for the business where its legacy would be respected and where it could go on to even greater success.


The buyer, Flocon Valves & Fittings, was founded in 1989 and works across multiple sectors including utilities, manufacturing, and healthcare as well as construction. It also provides technical support, specialist sourcing and fast, nationwide delivery from its South Wales distribution centre.


Craig Phillips from Flocon said:

“This deal will give us a presence in East Anglia and neighbouring counties, enabling us to support customers in the east of the UK and serving as our next step in scaling the business. We wish the shareholders well in their retirement and look forward to integrating Lamberts into the group.”

Neill Ives, Managing Director of Lamberts, said: “We are excited to be joining Flocon and taking the business positively into the future, providing our staff with even more opportunities for growth and development."


The Flocon acquisition was supported by the corporate finance team at UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory firm Azets.


Azets previously worked with Flocon Valves & Fittings with its own succession, which saw family members enabling the founders to retire three years ago.


Since then, the business has grown significantly and signalled an intention to make further acquisitions.

Azets’ Katherine Broadhurst and Adam Dix supported Flocon’s acquisition by providing fundraising, financial review, and supporting the lawyers with the financial aspects of the deal.


Tax advice was provided to Flocon by Azets’ Tracy Harries and Chris Watts. Legal advice was provided by Paul Evans, Abbie Baker and Catrin Mackie of Berry Smith


Katherine Broadhurst, Corporate Finance Partner at Azets, said:

“While the businesses are some distance away from each other their history, cultures and approach align closely, with their knowledge of each other coming from being members of the same buying group."

“It was a pleasure working with the Flocon team and we wish them well for the future which we anticipate will include further growth, supported by the geographical expansion enabled by this transaction.”


Construction is one of the largest sectors in the UK economy, with a turnover of £370 billion, contributing £138 billion in value added to the UK economy and employing 3.1 million people - nine per cent of the total UK workforce.


The ONS estimated that total construction output grew by 0.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the final three months of 2025. For more information about Azets, visit here.


Photo: (l-r) Adam Dix, Azets; Scott Price, Lamberts; Matthew Davies, Flocon; Craig Phillips, Flocon; Neill Ives, Lamberts, Andrew Phillips, Flocon; Katherine Broadhurst, Azets.

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British Gas is piloting the use of a hydrogen-powered van to help decarbonise their fleet, marking a significant step in their commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.*


The partnership with Ryze Power, the suppliers of clean hydrogen and alternative fuels and energy, will provide British Gas with access to the green hydrogen to power the Vauxhall Vivaro van over the two-month trial. The van is being put through its paces by a British Gas engineer in Birmingham, accessing Ryze’s refueling station at Tyseley during their working day.


The journey to Centrica, parent company of British Gas, reaching its 2040 net zero target includes achieving a net zero fleet by 2030, which is where this initiative supports the business in its vital next steps. Water vapour is the only emissions from the hydrogen vans, which include a battery a fraction of the size of that in an EV, meaning less requirement for mining precious metals.


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Rob Simister, Director of Fleet, comments on Centrica’s commitment to the roll out of hydrogen-powered vans:

“We are fully committed to the electrification of our fleet and we continue to invest in battery electric vehicles, as they will always be part of our net zero fleet mix. However, we see a time when hydrogen could play a role too, especially for engineers who don’t have easy access to charging options. When fully available and with the refuelling network to support it, operating hydrogen vans is much the same as a diesel, allowing our engineers to fill up in minutes and spend their time where it matters most, helping our customers.”

Alex Webster, Sales Director at Ryze, comments on the partnership between Ryze and Centrica during the trial:

“The hydrogen network is still in its infancy, but facilities like our Tyseley refueling station provide a blueprint for local green hydrogen production. We are already powering local buses in Birmingham, so there is no reason why we can’t support British Gas and other operators of large fleets on their journey to electrification, vital to the delivery of net zero.”


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