Contollo Group completes fourth acquisition
The Knutsford-headquartered building consultancy has bought MEP engineering services firm ESP, taking its headcount to more than 160.
Contollo is backed by NorthEdge, the Manchester private equity house that has previously supported the acquisitions of cost consultant Abacus in February last year, and MBA Consulting Engineers and M&E firm TACE as the management seeks to create a national multi-disciplinary practice.
Established in 1997, ESP – Engineering Services Partnership – has four main offices in Croydon, Peterborough, Manchester and Edinburgh. The company offers specialist engineering expertise across a wide range of sectors, notably banking, critical facilities, data centres, retail, industrial & logistics and commercial.
Ruth Percival, chief executive of Contollo, said: “This partnership will allow us to combine the extensive strengths and sector experience of ESP with the expertise and existing MEP capabilities of the Contollo team.
“ESP is a forward-thinking, innovative company with an exceptional blue-chip client portfolio. We are looking forward to working with the team and welcoming them to the growing Contollo Group.”
Percival added that after a year of expansion in 2024, the firm is looking to make further acquisitions this year. Over the next three years, it wants to add a further seven businesses.
Contollo, which places an emphasis on those working on smart, ESG-led buildings and projects, now turns over more than £20m a year factoring in the new addition’s figures.
Philip Graham-Clare, managing director at ESP, said: “We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity to be part of the Contollo Group.
“This transaction combines our strengths and enables us to deliver additional services, increased capacity, and even greater efficiency and sustainability for our clients, something we’re very passionate about.”
Contollo was advised by Langtons on finance advisory, Chiara Pettinicchio on client-side deal support, and Alvarez & Marsal Manchester on corporate finance advisory and project management. Cowgills provided finance and tax due diligence and Mills & Reeve provided legal support.
James Cowper Kreston and Blandy & Blandy acted for ESP.
