SOCOTEC UK Becomes No1 in Building Control in the UK after the Acquisitions of Shore and Quadrant
As a major platform of the SOCOTEC Group (the €1.2bn global group providing management risk services and technical advice for the Building and Infrastructure sectors) SOCOTEC UK has consolidated the UK Building Control market by making 2 strategic acquisitions, Shore and Quadrant, both Approved Inspectors.
200 experienced experts and surveyors will reinforce SOCOTEC UK’s market position, amounting 2,000 people and almost £200m in turnover in total. With this acquisition, the company becomes a major player in the Building & Real Estate market with a broadened service offering, including fire, sustainability and building envelope.
Established in 2007, Quadrant Building Control is a market leading Approved Inspector, which doubled in size from 2018 to 2021. It employs 140 surveyors and administrators and is licensed to undertake Building Control work in accordance with Part II of the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations 2010. Operating from its network of 16 offices nationwide, it has approved over 50,000 Building Regulations applications across England and Wales, utilising bespoke software to monitor each step of the inspection process.
Paul Knight, on behalf of the Quadrant board commented: “The Company has a proven track record and an enviable reputation for technical excellence in the Building Control field, serving clients from all residential, commercial and public sectors, with projects including new builds, extensions and refurbishments.
Joining forces will allow us to demonstrate the capability and national consistency required in today’s ever demanding regulatory environment so that we can continue to provide clients with the best possible Building Control service. Our in-house Training Programme provides an attractive route for young talent to gain professional qualification and enter the industry.”
The second acquisition, Shore, was first established in 2002, as a professional provider of consultancy services in relation to Building Control, Health and Safety, and Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM), in both the commercial and residential sectors. The company, based in Essex, employs almost 40 surveyors and CDM consultants and covers any size of project from minor buildings works to complex multi-million-pound developments.
Kevin Savage, managing director of Shore said: “When you instruct Shore as your approved inspector or construction safety consultants, you can be assured that you are receiving a high-quality service so that you can achieve reasonable compliance with building safety standards and regulations in both the commercial and residential markets. With the new combined SOCOTEC Building Control UK environment we have the platform to become the go-to private sector building control body to assist the Building Safety Regulator. Our relatively young and talented management team is enthusiastic to participate in this challenge of developing leader in all parts of the Building control UK market and expanding SOCOTEC’s engagement in the UK construction health and safety construction management sector.
As Approved Inspectors, authorised by Government to carry out Building Control on building works in England and Wales, both companies are licensed by the Construction Industry Council Approved Inspectors Register (CICAIR).
Nicolas Detchepare, CEO of SOCOTEC UK said: “By acquiring Shore and Quadrant, SOCOTEC UK has become the leading company in the UK building control sector, and a major player within the Building and Real Estate market, both in commercial and residential sectors. With this leading position, SOCOTEC UK will be able to provide a holistic approach, combining all building expertise, such as fire engineering, sustainability, structural engineering and building envelope, with significant expertise to support customers with the new Safety Bill requirements. Consequently, SOCOTEC will train more than 50 apprentices and recruit around 50 engineers each year in this area, and as the UK’s leading company in this sector, we will be able to attract and retain the best talent in the industry.”
Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the global SOCOTEC group added: “With this strategic move in the UK, we are confirming our strong belief in the UK economy and notably in the dynamism of the construction and infrastructure industries. SOCOTEC UK is now standing as the N°1 in Building control in the UK, thus joining SOCOTEC in France, ranked number 1 as well in the country. The group is paving the way for international leadership in risk management and technical advice in the Building and Infrastructure sectors, which is now within reach, with leading positions in Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain, and a recognized professional services company in the USA as well.”
