Brendan is the Owner and Executive Chairman of the Keltbray Group, a dynamic business that is one of the UK leaders in advanced construction and civil engineering. Born and raised in inner-city Belfast in 1965, Brendan’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to driving success and creating opportunities for others.
Brendan’s family is originally from West Belfast, his father was from Rockmore Road, and his mother was from Institution Place in the Lower Falls. Brendan was born in the Mater Hospital and lived in Institution Place with his mother until her untimely death in 1969 when he was four years old. He then moved to Rockmore Road to live with his father and grandmother until 1972, during this period Brendan attended St Kevin’s school on the Falls Road. His grandmother found herself as the beneficiary of a farm in Stoneyford as her last remaining sibling had never married.
Brendan moved to Stoneyford in 1973 and attended St. Peters School at the Rock from where he would go on to attend St Aidan’s in 1977. Brendan left school in June in 1981 aged 15 and started a carpentry and joinery apprenticeship which was a government supported scheme in on the Boucher Road Training Centre. Brendan was the first of two from the whole years intake to be offered an apprenticeship by a construction company called Michael Mooney & Sons based in Kerrera Street in Ardoyne. Brendan spent the next 3 years finishing his apprenticeship and then 2 years post apprenticeship mostly in the Ardoyne and North Belfast area and has a great affiliation with that area from his time spent there.
Brendan arrived in London, aged 21 in October 1986 where he worked for the first 16 months as a carpenter. He then had a job as a site manger working for Crown Cap and then with McGees for a year before joining Keltbray, a competitor of McGees.
With grit and an entrepreneurial spirit, Brendan worked his way from the ground up to cut his teeth in the construction industry before joining Keltbray in 1989; the business he would later go on to become sole equity owner and chief executive officer in 2003. Under his stewardship the group of companies underwent a period of rapid growth and expansion, extending the service portfolio through business development and acquisition, taking the Group from a turnover of £22 million into a +£500 million revenue business by 2019. What began as a modest venture has grown into a leading UK business that embodies innovation, community, and purpose. Today, Keltbray proudly ranks among the top 40 UK construction contractors in the 2024 league tables.
Brendan’s businesses, which remain founded on delivering specialist engineering services, employ more than 800 people directly, while supporting around 1200 more through the Group’s in-house contingent labour agency and subcontracting arrangements, making them a valuable contributor to the UK’s public purse.
Brendan attributes his upbringing to shaping his profound passion for social mobility. This passion has driven him to make it both a personal and professional mission to ensure that individuals, regardless of their background, have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
This commitment is deeply ingrained in Keltbray’s culture, reflected in its comprehensive social value initiatives and robust learning and development programs. These efforts champion inclusive hiring practices and actively support underserved communities through a range of impactful programs, initiatives, and philanthropic endeavours. Notably, Keltbray’s social value program generated an impressive £66m and then £74 million in 2023 and 2024 respectively, emphasising the tangible impact of Brendan’s vision.
When not steering the company or engaging in community work, Brendan enjoys spending time with his family and prioritises his personal fitness. He can often be found at the gym or out in the Surrey hills on his bike whenever time allows, reflecting his belief in the importance of life- balance and staying connected to the values that fueled his journey.
Brendan’s story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about achieving personal goals-it’s about creating pathways for others to thrive and transforming challenges into opportunities for meaningful impact.
Current external appointments:
Board Member of children’s charity and theatre company, Chicken Shed.
Honorary Fellow of RICS
Honorary Doctorate of Ulster University, Belfast
