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Where did it all begin?

The story of 1st Line Defence started all the way back in 2012, with our Managing Director – Brett Kinsman – and his vision of creating a UXO risk mitigation company that was a class above the rest.

Brett began his Army career in August 1993 when he joined the Royal Engineers, specialising in bomb disposal. He travelled all over the world learning his craft, and UXO became a passion rather than an occupation. This passion has led to an in-depth and wide-ranging knowledge of explosive ordnance and disposal techniques. He has accumulated a large collection of inert weaponry, along with a library of technical papers and books covering weaponry of every nationality.

Upon leaving the Army, Brett worked for various commercial UXO companies, both on the ground and as an Operations Manager – before deciding to form 1st Line Defence in 2012.

The vision for 1st Line Defence was more than just offering UXO risk mitigation services; Brett wanted to create a company that invested in its people and the very best equipment and processes – with a strong focus on building great relationships with clients and suppliers.

Where are we now?

1st Line Defence really has grown since its humble beginnings.

In 2012, we started with a team of two staff and soon added our first two historical researchers. It was a time when everyone had to wear many hats and ‘muck in’ with every aspect of the business, and our friendly and practical approach was soon winning over new clients.

We are proud to have built a robust and diverse workforce of over 150+ employees who are trained to deliver the highest levels of customer service. We have expanded our services to a wider global Land and Marine client base, whilst continuing to maintain the high quality project delivery 1st Line Defence has built its enviable reputation on.

1st Line Defence is the UXO risk mitigation company chosen by many organisations due to the numerous professional Accreditations & Memberships we hold, safety is our top priority and you are in good hands.

We are approved suppliers of the Counter Explosive Ordnance Defence Engagement Office (CEDE), which is part of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – and we are also members of the Institute of Explosive Engineers (IExpE).

1st Line Defence have the capabilities to assess and manage UXO risk on projects of all different shapes, sizes and scopes, and you can have peace of mind that our professionally-trained staff will support you throughout the entire project life cycle.

What does the future hold?

Our portfolio of work over the years has delivered a variety of services to 3,000+ clients, meeting all of their UXO risk mitigation needs and supporting our clients with UXO safety and awareness training, CPD courses and more.

We continuingly invest in our staff, equipment, processes, infrastructure and technology to provide our clients the most cost-effective UXO risk mitigation solutions in the industry.

Our employees sit at the core of our business and we are committed to providing the best possible training, from our ground staff all the way through to our management team.

Supported by a large and dedicated team from offices in Hertfordshire, UK and Florida, U.S.A, our UXO specialists and EOD engineers have used their expertise to mitigate risk across thousands of projects across the UK and Overseas.

It is all of this combined that has enabled us to become renowned as experts in our field. Whether it’s supporting clients that operate on Land or Marine projects, in conflict zones or for humanitarian purposes – you can rely on our knowledge, trustworthiness and professionalism.

Company Timeline

Why choose us

Extensive experience in the sector
Industry-leading technologies and infrastructure
Complete project life cycle solutions
Flexible and responsive approach
Professional accreditations and memberships

Click on the following link to view or download the UXO Risk Mitigation Strategy we adhere to, in accordance with CIRIA C681 Guidelines.

“I have always found 1st Line to be highly flexible and accommodating to project changes. Their site and office teams are punctual and professional and have given me no reason to look for an alternative supplier.“