This Bytesized piece explores Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) in action – a quick, practical insight into one of the most effective low‑impact installation methods in the industry.

What is Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and why is it used?

HDD is widely used by civil engineering contractors to install underground utilities without disturbing the surface, making it ideal for congested or sensitive environments. By drilling a guided underground path and pulling pipes or cables through in one continuous section, HDD minimises disruption, reduces environmental impact, and keeps infrastructure running as normal.

How was HDD applied on this high-constraint project?

A recent JSM project demonstrates this in action. The team was tasked with installing a high‑voltage cable route beneath a corridor packed with constraints, including dense utilities, environmentally sensitive features, operational areas, and live traffic movements. Traditional excavation wasn’t feasible.

How did engineering expertise ensure safe delivery?

Using gyro‑guided steering, staged drilling, real‑time monitoring, and strict environmental controls, the team delivered a minimal‑surface‑impact installation, completed in under five days. All surrounding operations, access routes, and habitats remained fully protected throughout. The project reflects best practice in civil engineering delivery within complex utility environments.

Why is HDD a preferred method for modern infrastructure projects?

This case study highlights why HDD has become a preferred method for modern infrastructure delivery: precision, safety, speed, and minimal disruption, even in the most challenging environments. 

Last week, we were delighted to support Latton Green Primary Academy in Harlow following their call to help to enhance outdoor creative play. The school reached out requesting items such as cones, barriers, signs and other resources the children could use to spark imagination during outdoor learning. We were pleased to donate a Road Safety Kit to help them create a fun, engaging and educational play environment.

The school shared their appreciation, saying:

The road safety kit has already made a fantastic impact on the children’s play and learning. They’ve loved using the signs, cones and barriers to create ‘road works’, redesign scooter routes, and work together, supporting teamwork, communication and early road safety awareness. We’re incredibly grateful for your generosity.

Community support is an important part of what we do at JSM, and we’re proud to play a small part in helping local schools enrich their pupils’ learning experiences.

Last week, a team of seven JSM Group volunteers joined forces with Citizen Zoo and euNetworks to support the creation of a new wetland habitat at Tolworth Court Farm.

Together, we planted aquatic vegetation across the site’s artificial wetland, a key milestone in Citizen Zoo’s long-term rewilding vision. These plants will help boost biodiversity, support local wildlife, and contribute to a greener, more resilient urban ecosystem.

Ben Stockwell, Urban rewilding officer at Citizen Zoo says:

We were delighted to welcome a brilliant team from JSM and euNetworks to our Wild Tolworth site for a day of wetland planting. This marked a major milestone – the first plants to go into the ground since we created our 3,500m³ wetland. A huge thank you to JSM for providing the aquatic plants that will help bring this new habitat to life, and to everyone who took part for making it such a productive and inspiring day.

Vegetation plantation

We’re proud to play a part in this inspiring project and look forward to future opportunities to support nature-based solutions in our communities.

For more than twenty years, JSM Group has delivered fibre optic connectivity across the United Kingdom. Our telecoms division has supported rural broadband programmes, national fibre roll outs and the extremely low latency networks needed by financial institutions and data centre operators.

As demand for bandwidth and speed continues to grow, the industry is now looking towards the next major step forward. That technology is Hollow Core Fibre, often referred to as HCF. In this article, Telecoms Director Daniel Rowan explains what HCF is, why it represents a significant change, and how it aligns with JSM Group’s forward looking approach to digital infrastructure.

What Is Hollow Core Fibre?

Hollow Core Fibre replaces the solid glass core found in traditional fibre with an air filled central channel. Light travels faster through air than through glass, which results in noticeably higher transmission speeds. In practical terms, this can reduce latency by up to half when compared with standard single mode fibre.

This improvement makes Hollow Core Fibre attractive in situations where even small delays matter. These situations include high frequency trading, real time data analytics and latency sensitive AI applications.

Further advantages of HCF include:

  • Significantly lower signal attenuation in advanced designs
  • Reduced need for repeaters on long distance routes
  • Better tolerance of high optical power levels
  • Reduced nonlinear effects that often disrupt dense wavelength division multiplexing
  • Lower signal dispersion, creating cleaner and more stable transmission
  • Enhanced resistance to temperature changes and radiation, which is particularly valuable in underground ducts
  • Improved security, as the air core design makes interception more difficult

These characteristics help to support very high bandwidths while improving reliability and reducing energy consumption.

Practical Uses in Data Centres and AI Connectivity

Hollow Core Fibre is especially valuable in data centres, where very low latency is critical for cloud computing, AI training and real time analytics. Several global operators are already considering HCF to speed up communication between servers and to reduce delays across complex processing environments.

HCF also has strong potential for short range links, such as connections between buildings or between racks inside data halls. In situations where traditional fibre begins to limit performance, HCF offers an immediate improvement.

Importantly, Hollow Core Fibre can often be integrated into existing fibre networks. Early deployments show that it is compatible with standard optics in many scenarios. This allows organisations to upgrade parts of a network without needing to replace everything.

As AI, 6G, edge computing and cloud services continue to expand, the need for fast and resilient data paths will grow. Hollow Core Fibre is expected to become increasingly common as part of modern telecom infrastructure.

Challenges to Consider

Although HCF offers clear benefits, it is still an emerging technology and should be understood in context. Current limitations include:

  • Higher manufacturing costs than standard fibre
  • Greater sensitivity to bending, which requires careful installation
  • The need for continued research and development to refine the design and further reduce loss

Even with these challenges, industry interest remains strong due to the clear performance gains and long term advantages.

What This Means for JSM Group

JSM Group is committed to supporting the next generation of telecom networks across the United Kingdom. Hollow Core Fibre aligns closely with this commitment.

Our teams can support clients with route design, installation, splicing, testing and integration into existing networks. We believe Hollow Core Fibre will play an important part in building faster, more reliable and more secure digital infrastructure for future applications, including AI, automation, smart cities and high capacity data platforms.

What we are seeing today is more than an incremental improvement. It is a shift towards a new model of connectivity that places speed, efficiency and reliability at the forefront of modern communication.

As part of JSM Group’s ongoing commitment to charitable initiatives, two of our colleagues, Samantha Monk and Doug Monk, are gearing up for the Thames Bridges Trek 2025, a 25km challenge through the heart of London in support of the Dragonfly Cancer Trust. 

We asked them a few questions about their motivations and preparations for the event: 

What inspired you to sign up for the Thames Trek?
JSM have kindly provided grants to a couple of causes that are important to us over the years and so we were keen to give something back. It also gave us an incentive to increase our fitness and get outside more whilst raising money for a fantastic cause. 

Have you ever done a charity walk or trek before? 
Doug has taken part in half marathons and an SAS ultra challenge previously; however, this is the first time for both of us taking part in a trek. 

What are you most looking forward to about the day? 
We are looking forward to the physical challenge, engaging with colleagues that we haven’t previously encountered, and the sense of achievement (and beverages) at the finish line. 

How have you been preparing for the trek – any training or gear tips?
We have been increasing our walking distances over a period of weeks since signing up; the kids and the dogs have never had to walk so far in their lives and will probably be glad when it’s over. 

12 JSM employees are proudly taking part in the trek to raise funds for Dragonfly Cancer Trust, with an impressive £2,550 raised so far! This is just one example of JSM’s ongoing commitment to giving back. The company has already donated over £6,334 to charitable causes this year alone. If you’d like to support the team’s efforts, donations can be made here.

We’re proud to support their journey and wish them all the best as they take on this inspiring challenge. Keep an eye out for updates and photos from the day! 

JSM Group is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey. The incoming CEO, Michael Booth, will lead the business alongside Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder John Scanlon and Chairman John Leahy, as the company continues to build on its strong foundation and ambitious growth strategy.

Michael Booth served as JSM Group’s Chief Financial Officer since February 2025, playing a key role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and supporting its expansion into new markets. With a deep understanding of the infrastructure sector and a proven track record of leadership, Michael steps into the CEO role with the support of shareholders, TowerBrook Capital Partners, and Chairman, John Leahy, with immediate effect, reflecting JSM Group’s commitment to continuity and long-term growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Michael Booth said:

I’m honoured to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer at such a pivotal moment in JSM Group’s journey. Having worked closely with Stuart, John, and the wider leadership team, I’ve seen first-hand the strength of our people and the scale of opportunity ahead. As CEO, my focus will be on integrating our capabilities, communicating with clarity, continually evolving to meet industry demands, solving complex challenges, and driving meaningful outcomes for our clients and communities. These values are at the heart of JSM Group, and I’m excited to lead with them as our guide.

Stuart Wiltshire, who founded JSM Group in 1998 with brothers John and Mark Scanlon, is stepping-down due to ill-health but will continue to support the business with strategic oversight and guidance. Under their leadership, JSM Group has grown into a leading infrastructure services provider, with Mark Scanlon playing a pivotal role in the early success of the business before his departure in 2019 to pursue new ventures.

John Scanlon, COO and Co-founder, will work closely with the new CEO to ensure a smooth transition and continued operational excellence. Together, they will focus on strengthening JSM Group’s position both in the UK and overseas, with a particular emphasis on supporting the growth of data centre infrastructure and renewable energy projects, two key pillars of the company’s future-facing strategy.

Commenting on the transition, Stuart Wiltshire said:

It has been an incredible journey building JSM Group with John and Mark. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and excited to support the next chapter of growth from a distance. With Michael and John at the helm, I’m confident the business is in excellent hands.

The appointment of the new CEO reflects JSM Group’s commitment to evolving its leadership to meet the demands of clients and a dynamic industry while staying true to its founding values.

A huge well done to all our incredible JSM employees who took part in the Thames Bridges Trek this weekend!

Together, they’ve raised an amazing total of £4430 so far for the Dragonfly Cancer Trust, supporting young cancer patients across the UK.

We chose this challenge not just for its scenic route, but because it holds special meaning for us. JSM Group was founded in London in 1998, and our early success came from being one of the few companies with the expertise to deliver complex utility infrastructure projects in the capital’s challenging urban landscape. Walking across the very bridges that span the city where our journey began made this trek especially meaningful.

Congratulations to all the employees for completing the trek and a massive thank you to everyone who has donated to such an incredible cause.

This week, our team came together to support a cause close to many hearts. From homemade cakes and sweet treats to generous donations, the spirit of giving was truly alive. Whether baking or donating, everyone played a part, and together we raised over £350 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

This event is just one example of JSM’s ongoing commitment to charitable causes. In the last two months alone, the team has raised an incredible £5,000 for charity. It’s a testament to the generosity, compassion, and community spirit that runs through everything we do.

A huge thank you to all our colleagues who got involved. Your kindness and creativity made this event a real success!

Welcome to our new ‘Bytesized’ series, your go-to for a quick read on hot topics in utility infrastructure. Each article delivers insights to keep you informed, fast.

Survey work was recently carried out at a substation in Lincolnshire, where the team undertook a PAS 128 utility survey to support the development of a new cable route for the client. GPS devices were used to capture mark-ups across the site, and the data collected is being processed into a 2D format to visualise the survey findings.

The activities included both utility mapping and topographical surveying. These provided essential information for cable route planning, including land heights, culverts, drains, and their dimensions. This level of detail was key to identifying landmarks and ensuring the proposed route would be practical and efficient.

Utility mapping also played a vital role in understanding existing infrastructure. It helped confirm what was already documented and revealed previously unknown features that may require further investigation. By undertaking these surveys, the team helped de-risk the project, ensuring that design decisions were based on accurate, site-specific data.

The PAS 128 survey provided a critical foundation for the project. By capturing accurate, site-specific data early in the process, we were able to validate existing records, uncover unknown risks, and inform the design with confidence. This proactive approach significantly reduces the likelihood of costly delays later in delivery. – Madalina Cordea, Pre-Construction Project Manager.

This work formed a crucial part of the early planning phase, laying the groundwork for a safe and effective cable installation into the substation.

JSM was pleased to have Grant Packham, our Group Commercial Director, contribute to Efficio’s recent panel discussion on “Being the client of choice in a capacity-constrained market”. The session brought together industry leaders to share practical perspectives on collaboration, pipeline visibility, and the importance of strengthening client–supplier relationships.

The conversation was both insightful and timely, and a reminder that, especially in today’s challenging market, success often comes down to honest conversations and keeping things simple.

Reflecting on the discussion, Grant commented:

The earlier we get involved, the earlier we can understand the risks and try and design them out if we can, or at least understand what the potentials are. Early engagement absolutely supports better outcomes, even if it takes longer to get started on a project. The sooner we’re involved, the better the outcome is for everyone.

Thank you to Efficio and all the panellists for a thought-provoking discussion. You can view the webinar highlights below.