BWB builds up with DKS Consulting deal

01 January 2013

BWB has expanded its capabilities still further with the acquisition of a mechanical and electrical engineering specialist, DKS Consulting.

The transaction marks the latest step by BWB in an ambitious growth plan that has seen it take on a number of high-profile projects and expand internationally through a new joint venture in Australia.

Scobie Alvis, BWB’s Group Director in charge of their Buildings and Built Environment Group, said the deal would expand the firm's capabilities and bring on board respected industry expertise. DKS’s founder David Stairmand becomes a Director within the B&BE Group responsible for leading and developing BWB’s Sustainable Building Services capability.

Scobie Alvis said "BWB has a clear long-term strategy to grow the business and a key part of that is to extend our capabilities. We have strong relationships with a number of key Clients and the capability to deliver complex major projects. Those Clients are increasingly looking for us to provide them with a wide spectrum of engineering solutions, particularly in relation to energy efficiency and sustainable development.

"We have been looking to add specific building engineering skills, such as thermodynamic modelling and energy efficiency expertise, to our current services and DKS has built a great reputation for professional excellence in these fields in only a short period. We are confident David and his team will be a great fit with BWB's own ethos."

A former regional director with a major M&E consultancy, David Stairmand has worked on a number of high-profile projects, including the £560m Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. He formed DKS two years ago, and quickly built up a strong portfolio of work based on its proven capabilities in key market sectors such as healthcare, education, commercial, retail, leisure and mixed use schemes.

Scobie Alvis said, "Although DKS is a comparatively small consultancy, it has substantial expertise and a track record of contributing real value to its Clients’ projects. This is a team that has worked on major regional projects, carrying out technical feasibility studies and assessments and staying with projects all the way from design and construction through to occupation."

David Stairmand added, "We're thrilled to become part of BWB because we share a passion for technical excellence and delivering real value. Although BWB is an expanding business, with national and international capability, it has maintained the ethos and enthusiasm of a smaller business and we think the deal is a great fit."

BWB has a national network of offices in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds that together generate an annual turnover of £10.5m and employ some 150 people. It delivers a range of engineering services centred around the built environment, transportation and infrastructure and environmental sectors.

It has recently entered the international arena by setting up a joint venture collaboration with Intelara, an established Australian Consultant with offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. BWB is currently involved in two $40m development projects in Sydney and Melbourne, with other prospects in the pipeline in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Steve Wooler, Managing Director of BWB Consulting, said: "The acquisition of DKS is part of a wider expansion strategy which we're achieving through a mix of organic growth and moving into new markets. Having the right blend of expertise is a crucial part of that and the incorporation of the DKS specialist skill set will enable us to offer a broader range of services and innovative integrated solutions to our Clients. The strategy is already bearing fruit because we are utilising the DKS expertise as part of our multi-disciplinary service for a major residential led project on the Isle of Dogs, on a site that is a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf.

"The addition of this new expertise will strengthen our capabilities and provide a more comprehensive offering for the numerous valued Clients we are privileged to work with."

To find out more about BWB Energy and Sustainability, click here.

Key Contacts

Name: Steve Wooler
Job Title: Chief Executive

E: steve.wooler@bwbconsulting.com

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