It promptly set about expanding both its product lines and international presence; the latter was augmented by a series of acquisitions, which included the British businesses Pyrotenax Ltd, Power Securities, and Balfour Beatty, along with a variety of interests in Portugal, Spain, East Germany and Russia.

Manufacturing sites included Erith, Prescot, Kirkby, Leyton, Helsby, Leigh, Melling, Wrexham, Blackley, Belfast and Huyton.

During the 1980s, the company came under increasing competitive pressure which, despite an intense focus on driving up employee productivity and high workplace standards, eventually resulted in factory closures and job losses.

The 1990s led to sweeping changes being enacted, which included the sale of its housebuilding interests and the divestment of its telecommunications and power cables activities onto other parties.

[1] It was originally an importer and refiner of bitumen for road construction but began manufacturing insulated cables at their Erith site on the Thames in the 1880s.

[2] Callender's research and engineering laboratories were based at a former power station site in White City, London, close to Ormiston House, where the company's founder had lived.

[7][8] The firm's purchase of both Spanish and Portuguese companies developed BICC's presence in both South America and multiple parts of Africa.

[5] To this end, BICC embarked on a series of major investment projects, constructing several entirely new factories while most of its existing works were heavily re-structured.

[5] In 1974, BICC was recording a turnover of £782 million across the whole group, 52 per cent of which was attributed to the activities of its overseas companies and its exports from the British market.

[21][22] Beyond the name change, the company's business strategy shifted considerably; beyond focusing on the construction of infrastructure projects, Balfour Beatty diversified into the financing, operation, design and management functions as well.