Sauter has taken a majority stake in UK engineering and facilities management business 24-7 Group, in a deal completed on 16 October 2026. It gives building services operators a larger UK platform that pairs building automation and energy management with technical facilities delivery.

Sauter is a family-owned building automation and engineering group based in Basel, founded in 1910. It employs more than 4,020 people across 40 subsidiaries.

24-7 Group is a Cheshire-based business founded by Andy Hawes in 2010, which has grown from an electrical contractor into a £70 million business with more than 330 employees.

Hawes will remain chief executive and a shareholder. 24-7 Group will continue as a distinct operating group within Sauter, with its own identity, leadership and customer relationships.

Hawes said: “SAUTER hasn’t invested in 24-7 to change what makes us successful. They’ve invested because they believe in what we’ve built and, more importantly, what we can become together.”

He added: “For our customers, it’s the same people, the same commitment and the same determination to do a great job, just with more behind us.”

Mark Clinch, EVP and head of sales and marketing at SAUTER Group, said: “Combined with SAUTER Group’s established UK presence and extensive experience in delivering and maintaining complex buildings, this creates a stronger platform for growth, expands the Group’s reach and enhances its ability to provide integrated solutions throughout the building lifecycle.”

Construction Enquirer reported that Sauter has a UK turnover of £250 million, and that 24-7 Group will keep serving clients across retail, logistics, distribution, manufacturing and transport while developing opportunities through the wider Sauter network.

The deal extends a UK push. Dealroom reported that Sauter acquired building-management specialist Electracom Projects in April 2026, while 24-7 Group has itself grown through the acquisitions of Leeton and Optech.

For the sector, a controls specialist buying a national engineering contractor signals that building automation providers want direct control of installation and maintenance delivery, not only the technology.

Source: Facilitate Magazine / Construction Enquirer / Dealroom