E3P becomes latest to sell to Ecology Group

Private equity-backed Ecology Group has bought its ninth business since forming a year ago, adding 80 staff in Manchester and Birmingham to its ranks.

E3P is the first acquisition by Ecology Group in the North West. Martin Dyer, chief executive and founder of E3P, said the decision to sell was influenced by Ecology Group’s “people-focused” approach and added that he was “looking forward to working with our fellow companies and the group team on accelerating the strategic direction of the business.”

Martin Dyer. Credit: E3P

The group structure will allow E3P to continue with business as usual while offering broader service lines to clients.

Founded in 2013, E3P is a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy with expertise ranging from heritage to acoustics and geotechnical advice.

Of the 80 people working at E3P, 72 are in the Urmston head office and eight in Birmingham. The business turns over more than £8m a year and was owned entirely by active directors and senior managers, led by main shareholder Dyer alongside directors Dan Cox, Steph Cox, Andy Edgar and Rob Horseman.

Recent projects include the 1,400-home development at Mosley Common in Wigan, where E3P originally advised Peel and is now working for Kellen Homes. E3P is also working for Bellway Homes and Vistry at the former Brackley Golf Course in Bolton delivering 600 homes.

The consultancy has provided consultancy services to Novo Bluemantle as part of the regeneration of the former Horwich locomotive works, which will deliver 1,700 homes and a link road, along with commercial and industrial space.

Other businesses acquired since Ecology Group was created in spring 2025, backed by private equity investor Ansor, are MKA Ecology, Earth Active, Living Earth, Burton Reid Associates, Johns Associates, Wildwood Ecology, Mine Environment Management, and Nicholas Pearson Associates.

Ansor is headed by Edward Ainsworth, Peter Marson and Peter Strafford. Ansor was set up in 2010 and targets “profitable SMEs in fragmented, growing sectors”.

Manchester-based Chris Heyes, formerly head of strategic finance at RSK Group, another highly acquisitive player in the environmental market, joined Ecology Group in April 2025 as chief financial officer, shortly after its formation.