Brimstone UXO: 2025 Year in Review
2025 has been another busy year for Brimstone UXO, with our teams supporting a wide range of projects across the UK and internationally. From major risk assessments to new initiatives and industry engagement, the year offered opportunities to strengthen relationships, share expertise, and keep communities safe from unexploded ordnance. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.
2025 in Numbers
This year, our teams continued to deliver UXO risk mitigation at scale, supporting projects across construction, defence, infrastructure, energy, and environmental sectors. We completed more than 650 UXO risk assessments and safely managed over 45,850 UXO finds, reflecting both the intensity and efficiency of our operations throughout 2025.
Our CPT operators carried out more than 12,000 intrusive UXO probes and our engineers delivered upwards of 50,000 hours on sites across the UK and overseas. With a continued focus on surveying, we covered more than 1,750 hectares using our non-intrusive systems.
We were proud to welcome over 140 new clients into the Brimstone network, contributing to an exceptional 110% increase in order volume compared to the previous year. One of our key commitments remains safety, and in 2025 we recorded zero hours lost to health and safety incidents. We also maintained a consistent 5/5 client satisfaction score, reflecting the professionalism and expertise of our teams across every project.
Brimstone Members Club Launch
Early in the year, we launched the Brimstone Members Club, providing clients and partners with exclusive insights, priority updates, and added value through a discount on their next Brimstone order. The initiative has helped strengthen connections with our network and ensure ongoing access to practical UXO risk guidance.
Major Projects
Demobilisation in Lithuania
In January, we concluded a 16-month project in Lithuania, completing a 1,300-hectare UXO drone survey for a new military training area. Using UAV technology with LiDAR, photogrammetry, and magnetometry systems, our teams captured detailed data across the site, even in sub-zero temperatures.
The survey identified 8,500 potential targets, including FAB 500 high explosive bombs, RBK 250 cluster bombs, and AO 2.5 submunition HE-Frag grenades. This work demonstrated the effectiveness of non-intrusive survey methods in large-scale, complex environments.
Wooler Play Area Investigation
January also saw Brimstone UXO called to Wooler, Northumberland, where unexploded ordnance was discovered at a children’s play area. Initially scoped as a two-day survey, the high concentration of munitions discovered extended the investigation to several weeks.
On the first day alone, 65 British 10lb practice bombs were safely recovered from a single one-square-metre pit. By the end of the survey, a total of 175 practice bombs and associated military scrap metal had been removed by our engineers. Once all items had been certified as free from explosives and recovered, our EOD engineers removed them from the site for safe disposal in accordance with current industry standards.
Brimstone UXO then issued an ALARP certificate to Wooler Parish Council, confirming the site was safe for redevelopment.
Defence Training Estate Project Completion
September marked the successful completion of our major, multi-year project assessing UXO risks across the UK’s Defence Training Estate. Commissioned by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, this programme involved Detailed UXO Risk Assessments for 75 military training areas, covering a total of 176,752 hectares.
Throughout the project, our Research team worked extensively with historical maps, service records, aerial photography, and operational archives to build a comprehensive understanding of each site’s historical military use. This included identifying how areas had evolved over time, from early 20th-century training grounds to modern live-fire and manoeuvre facilities.
Our field teams collaborated closely with Training Safety Marshalls and Training Safety Officers during site visits, reviewing range logbooks, walking key areas, and capturing photographs and geospatial data to support each assessment. The work required travel from the south coast of England to the northernmost points of Scotland, covering a broad range of training environments.
This project not only strengthened our long-standing relationship with the Ministry of Defence but also underscored our capability to deliver large-scale, complex UXO risk assessments with precision and consistency.
Industry Engagement
Hold Fast Challenge Sponsorship
In July, we were proud to sponsor the Hold Fast Challenge at Rutland Water Park. This unique event, inspired by Royal Navy Clearance Diver training, was a true test of resilience, teamwork, and determination – qualities that we value highly at Brimstone UXO.
Sector Events
Our teams attended key industry events throughout the year, including the AGS Conference in May and the Kent Construction Expo in October. These events provided opportunities to share expertise, discuss best practices, and connect with clients and partners.
October also saw Aaron Florence, our Founder, recognised as a finalist in the Business Scale-Up Award at the Soldiering on Awards. The evening offered a chance to celebrate the armed forces community and the dedication of our teams.
Graduate Scheme Milestone
2025 marked the first anniversary of the Brimstone UXO Graduate Scheme. Adrian Gassama reflected on his experience as a graduate UXO engineer:
“My first year has been shaped by a balance of structured learning and practical fieldwork. The training has been extremely beneficial, designed so that the skills I learn can be applied directly to my day-to-day tasks. The hands-on experience has reinforced my understanding and built my confidence in the field.”
Media Coverage
Our work received strong national and international media coverage in 2025. The Wooler play area investigation was reported on by BBC News, Sky News, ABC, Fox News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Our UXO risk assessment work at the University of Exeter’s West Park site also attracted significant attention, highlighting the importance of professional UXO management in new development projects.
Looking ahead to 2026
2025 has reinforced the need for professional UXO risk management across the UK and internationally. In 2026, Brimstone UXO will celebrate its 10-year anniversary, marking a decade of expertise and commitment to keeping communities and projects safe.
We look forward to continuing our work with clients and partners, delivering high-quality risk assessments, and supporting safe development and operational projects. For updates and insights, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, or get in touch to discuss UXO services for 2026.
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