From riverbanks to recycled rubble, Wade Group is rewriting the rules of construction – with Yanmar Compact Equipment powering every move.
In the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England – where rivers run fast and work runs deep – Wade Group is forging a more considered path.
Not by chasing scale, but by doubling down on care, craftsmanship and long-term thinking.
What began as a family groundwork firm is now a trusted name in civil engineering, construction and material recovery – with a focus on doing things better, not just bigger.
One machine captures that mindset perfectly: a luminous green SV100-7 midi excavator from Yanmar. Custom-wrapped to match the company’s bold branding, it turns heads on site while reflecting Wade’s commitment to cleaner, smarter construction.
For Wade Group, the SV100-7 was a natural fit: practical innovation with a lighter footprint. With an operating weight of 9,815 kg (steel tracks), it delivers high performance in a compact package – ideal for sensitive environments and tight urban plots. Sourced through Mellor Plant, Yanmar’s trusted dealer for the North West of England, the SV100-7 holds pride of place not only on site, but in the office too – where a miniature model (a gift from Mellor) sits in matching green.
It’s a small symbol of a bigger shift: investing in kit that looks the part and does its part for the planet. “We wanted something smart, flexible and unmistakable,” says John Wade, Director. “The SV100-7 fit the bill perfectly – and it makes a statement wherever it goes.”
Wade Group’s approach reflects the same values Yanmar Compact Equipment promotes globally: listening to clients, working hands-on, and building long-term partnerships based on trust. From the start, Wade has prioritized strong relationships – with clients, subcontractors, employees and suppliers alike.
Though the business has grown, its people-first ethos remains unchanged. With most work coming via tenders and repeat clients, reliability and turnaround are everything. “Ninety-five percent of our work is within an hour’s drive,” says John. “It keeps us leaner, cleaner, and closer to home.”
Wade’s local mindset also supports wider environmental goals. The company’s philosophy aligns with Yanmar’s Green Challenge 2050 – a global initiative to reduce environmental impact across every aspect of operations, from emissions and energy use to design and circularity.
This mindset is especially clear in Wade’s expanding material recovery operations. With the addition of a Yanmar V7 wheel loader – the lightest in the range at 4,250 kg – the team now recycles concrete, tarmac and brick on-site, cutting costs and landfill waste. “It’s about using what we’ve got and making it go further,” says John. “We’re cutting waste while working smarter.”
Nicknamed the ‘Jack Russell’, the V7’s compact size and sharp handling make it ideal for tight yards – and a key player in Wade’s push for more circular construction. “It’s got serious bite for its size,” John laughs.
The green thread runs through Wade’s river restoration work, too. In partnership with the River Ribble Trust, the team has delivered fish passes and bypass channels to help salmon and trout navigate past industrial-era weirs. One recent scheme carved a new route around a Victorian barrier, restoring access upstream for the first time in over a century.
Another project in Samlesbury (Lancashire, England) saw the removal of a redundant concrete gauging weir near Brockholes Nature Reserve – carefully completed from a single bank to avoid disturbing the habitat. Riverbanks were reprofiled to blend with the natural landscape, while salvaged concrete was crushed and reused as sub-base on future jobs.
“You’re moving earth while restoring something that’s been broken for generations,” John reflects. “It’s meaningful work – and the SV100-7 gives us the control and finesse to do it with minimal impact.”
Wade’s values also extend to the people behind the machines. When a long-standing subcontractor – John’s cousin – returned to site work after losing his lower leg in a motorbike accident, he was able to continue operating with the support of a tiltrotator-equipped Yanmar SV26 (2,740 kg OW), also supplied by Mellor Plant. “The SV26 keeps him secure on uneven terrain and able to work safely from the cab,” says John. “It’s kept him active and doing what he does best.”
Wade Group’s story is one of evolution through care – built on relationships, shaped by values, and powered by purposeful equipment. It’s proof that even small, local firms – and machines – can drive meaningful change.
So, if you spot a high-vis green digger working a bridge, bypass or riverbank in Lancashire, England, you’ll know who’s behind it: a team doing things differently. Cleaner, smarter – and greener, in every sense of the word.
