Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Dublin-based Macro Works by environmental consultancy APEM.

Macro Works is a landscape consultancy firm specialising in the landscape & visual impact assessment (LVIA) of proposed developments, particularly in large scale infrastructure projects such as wind farms, solar farms, road schemes, and water/electrical transmission. The company also produces photomontages, 3D visual simulations, glint & glare reports, and landscape design.

APEM provides independent environmental consultancy and expert advice to a wide range of industries including water, renewables, power & utilities, marine & ports, transport, construction, and development. The company provides digital aerial wildlife surveys, specialist marine, freshwater, terrestrial ecology, and geospatial services to organisations across the world.

APEM has offices in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, and the USA. Since receiving private equity investment from WestBridge in 2019, APEM has seen its revenue grow from £10m to a forecast c.£60m in the current financial year, employing 540 people across five divisions.

Earlier this week, APEM announced it had secured a +£50m debt package and additional accordion from Tikehau Investment Management UK, with an additional £7.5m working capital facility from Virgin Money to accelerate its ambitious growth strategy.

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Huco Consulting, Inc and Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. The reasons for targeting were strategic expansion and the added value that Huco would bring to the table.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Yorkshire-headquartered Shift Left by Sydney-headquartered Planit, for an undisclosed sum.

Shift Left provides specialist business and technology consultancy services, improving quality and reducing risk for clients by providing the strategies, solutions and advice needed to move quality earlier and throughout IT lifecycles of change. Working with clients throughout the UK and Europe, the company has a strong reputation in a niche industry with renowned blue-chip clients.

Planit is the leading provider of quality engineering solutions, consultancy, services, and training in the Asia Pacific region. The company enables businesses to deliver better software by providing the skills and solutions needed to improve the quality of their software and the way they deliver it.

Under the acquisition, Shift Left will continue to operate under its brand, with its co-founders David Rigler and Alan Upton leading Shift Left operations.

According to Managing Director, Mr. Rigler, the company’s partnership with Planit will enable Shift Left to continue its focus on providing a quality service to its customers by leveraging the scale and capability that Planit has within its existing operations.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the acquisition of Manchester-based Hargreaves Jones by London-based CCi.

Established in 2005, Hargreaves Jones is a consultancy providing commercial and project management services to clients primarily in the large-scale infrastructure sectors including nuclear decommissioning, electricity generation and distribution, oil and gas, green energy generation, transportation, and manufacturing both in the UK and internationally.

CCi, a Rimkus company, is an independent consultancy with an international reputation for expertise in the insurance and construction industries. Operating from over 17 locations worldwide, CCi has a dedicated team of 115 experts helping to resolve some of the world’s largest and most complex insurance claims and construction disputes.

Rimkus has been established for over 40 years and now operates from more than 110 offices worldwide. It is a provider of engineering and technical consulting services to corporations, insurance companies, law firms, and government agencies. Rimkus also provides architecture, engineering, and construction services for the built environment, including restoration design, facilities risk assessments, and due diligence property condition assessments.

The acquisition will support the advancement of CCi’s expertise to deliver commercial and project management services to clients engaged in capital construction and engineering activities on both large and small infrastructure projects.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of County Cork-based Velopi by Boston-based Educate 360.

Established in 2007 and headquartered in Kinsale, Ireland, Velopi provides training and consultancy services, specialising in the niche of project management. The firm has a list of renowned clients that includes Abbott and Pfizer.

Educate 360 is a professional training partner that designs training, coaching, and consulting solutions to improve efficiency, increase cross-functional alignment, and drive results. The acquisition enables Educate 360 to have a greater reach into the European market and the ability to build upon Velopi’s existing clientele.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between design engineering consultancy, Qoda, and Efficient Building Solutions (EBS).

Established in 2011, Qoda is a highly experienced engineering consultant that brings a personal approach to the mechanical, electrical and sustainable areas of building design. The company, which has a 60-strong consultancy team and offices in Oxfordshire, London and Bristol, operates nationally across a variety of sectors including education, commercial, leisure and healthcare.

EBS aims to play a leading role in addressing the climate impact of the UK’s buildings and helping reduce fuel poverty by creating healthy energy efficient buildings. The group’s portfolio includes physics consultancy Enhabit, product supplier Green Building Store and an expanding renewable energy installation and service group, including Go Eco Renewables and Bright Green Renewables.

EBS is backed by Ansor, the UK’s leading business focused on establishing, acquiring and growing entrepreneurial SMEs.

As a result of the acquisition, EBS will benefit from Qoda’s considerable commercial track record and expertise which it will bring to the wider group, meaning that the combined companies can offer increased whole building design capability and capacity for clients.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that Oxfordshire-based Safety Services has been acquired by Nottingham-based Phenna Group.

Safety Services is a professional consultancy offering a comprehensive range of health & safety solutions including site inspections, incident investigations, training courses, documentation & policies support, safety equipment, and general consultancy services to the construction, retail, and manufacturing sectors. The company has developed a trademarked cloud-based system which produces electronic reports to streamline administrative processes and increase accessibility to key information.

Established in 2018, Phenna provides investment and strategic leadership to companies in the testing, inspection, certification, and compliance (TICC) sector. Its aim is to build a global portfolio of independent TICC businesses.

Safety Services is the group’s seventh acquisition in 2021 and the first in the UK focused on HSE services. The Safety Services transaction comes just after Phenna Group’s acquisition of Ecology Solutions, a transaction also conducted via Benchmark International. Phenna has also previously worked with Benchmark International on the acquisitions of GMES and Facit Testing.

Mike Fitchett, Founder of Safety Services commented: “I am very pleased to partner with Phenna Group. As I plan to step back from my managerial responsibilities, it was important for me to secure an experienced and ambitious partner to work with Jon Austin, who will lead the team as Managing Director. From my first engagement with Paul and his team, they have been professional and trustworthy. That has given me great confidence that the business is in capable hands and I look forward to the next phase of our expansion, working in close collaboration with the Phenna Group team.”

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Vanguardia and its subsidiary, Crowd Dynamic International Limited, by Buro Happold.

Vanguardia is an environmental and technology consultancy, working with architects, developers, stadium and arena operators, promoters, and end-user clients to enhance sound, minimise noise and improve the air quality of industrial and commercial projects and events. The company has undertaken major landmark projects in the sports and entertainment sector, working with major touring artists like The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, leading festivals such as Hyde Park’s Time and Reading & Leeds Festival, and iconic stadium/arena venues such as Wembley Stadium and The O2.

Crowd Dynamic provides modelling solutions and consultancy to support design and operational projects in the built and natural environment.

Buro Happold has been established for over 40 years and is an international consultancy of engineers, consultants and advisers, operating in 26 locations worldwide, with over 70 partners and 1,900 employees.

Previously, Vanguardia and Buro Happold have worked together on renowned sports and entertainment projects in venues such as Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, O2 Arena, Qatar Education City Stadium, London Stadium and The Fisht Olympic Stadium.

The acquisition will strengthen Buro Happold’s consultancy capabilities, specifically in acoustics and sound engineering, environmental advisory services, plus a broad range of electro-acoustic and technology offers. It also creates a platform for the continued growth of Vanguardia into new sectors and markets.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the sale of Arcus Consultancy Services (“Arcus Consultancy”) to ERM-Europe (“ERM”).

Arcus Consultancy is an award-winning, multidisciplinary environmental, planning and engineering consultancy, specialising in the renewable energy sector. Clients include five of the ‘big six’ UK energy suppliers and projects include some of the most significant renewable energy schemes in Europe and Africa. 70 staff work from the company’s offices in Glasgow, York, Durham, Maidstone, and Cape Town, providing a range of connected services.

ERM is a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting, and sustainability related services. The company works with the world’s leading organisations, helping them to understand their sustainability challenges. ERM employs more than 5,500 people who work in more than over 160 offices in over 40 countries and territories.

This acquisition will enable the continued growth journey of Arcus Consultancy, while providing an exciting opportunity for ERM to acquire Arcus Consultancy's specialism in renewable energy consulting.

Greg Shillabeer, Founder and CEO of Arcus Consultancy commented: “We have created a fantastic business in Arcus over the past 14 years and are keen to further develop and diversify geographically, in different market sectors and with new clients. By joining a market leader like ERM, with such a strong global platform and market presence, these aspirations will be immediately possible, whilst ensuring our clients continue to have access to the very best technical expertise. We also aspire to help organisations who are yet to fully realise the potential renewables can bring to their businesses and have ambitious plans to achieve this through our union with ERM, ultimately contributing toward the global transition to a lower carbon economy."

Benchmark International has advised on the transaction between remediation specialist, Ecologia, and environmental and engineering services specialist, RSK.

Founded in 2000, Ecologia provides services in the area of contaminated land consultancy, site investigation and remediation, and specialised support for environmental claims. With headquarters in Sittingbourne and further sites in Stafford, Devon and Bologna, Ecologia employs a workforce of 45.

RSK is an integrated environmental, engineering and technical services consultancy, which has 36 international offices, more than 2,700 employees and an annual turnover of £200m. It is currently investing in the development of new businesses, bolt-on complementary businesses, equipment and capabilities to increase its services and expand internationally.

With Ecologia previously supporting RSK on projects, most recently in Africa and the Dominican Republic, joining forces will enable RSK to strengthen its internal site remediation resources and equipment, grow its remediation capability and expand into new markets. As well, with Ecologia’s base in Italy and extensive international experience, the company also strengthens RSK’s international expansion across Europe.

Ecologia will join RSK’s contracting division under the direction of RSK Divisional Director Claire Knighton but will continue to be led by current Managing Director Giacomo Maini.

Benchmark International has advised on the transaction between Manchester-based fire engineering consultancy, Omega Fire, and specialist fire consultant firm, BB7, to create the UK’s leading independent fire and security advisory firm.

Omega Fire is a fast-growing, highly profitable fire safety property consultancy using computational modelling to assess fire engineering proposals and address potential fire hazards and risks.

Founded in 2009, BB7 is a fire safety and security consultancy with eight offices nationwide and 60 expert advisers. It offers three core services to clients: fire engineering, fire risk management, and security consultancy and has a client base of building developers, local authorities, housing associations, and hotel and leisure groups. As such, the two companies complement each other in terms of client spread and services offered allowing the combined entity to continue to build its strong reputation.  

Following the acquisition, Omega Fire will continue to operate from Manchester and Leeds, and trade as Omega Fire Engineering Limited throughout 2019, and the amalgamation of the two companies will create a firm with just under 100 people and 10 offices nationwide.

BB7 has been backed by the Business Growth Fund (BGF), which is the UK and Ireland’s most active investor in growing businesses. The investment from BGF will support BB7’s longer-term growth strategy, providing the capital and experienced resources to accelerate its growth plans.