Ridge deal expands firm’s Manchester office

Property and construction consultancy Ridge & Partners has acquired structural and civil engineering firm Scott Hughes Design, scooping up 21 additional staff for its Manchester outfit under the deal.

Ridge is currently on the project teams for a range of schemes in Manchester and Leeds, including Circle Square Manchester for client Select Property, Project Urban for Dandara Living in Manchester, Viadux in Manchester for developers Ask Real Estate and Salboy.

Ridge has also been appointed this year to the Innovation Chain North & Procure Partnerships Framework for Leeds and Birmingham.

Under the deal, the value of which was not disclosed, SHD’s five-strong office in Leeds will be rebranded as Ridge and 21 staff will join Ridge’s Manchester team. The total headcount at Ridge will grow to more than 600 staff across its 12 UK offices.

Adrian O’Hickey, senior partner at Ridge, said: “This is an important addition for Ridge. Our partner-led approach offers scale and expertise with a personal touch and the agility to take our clients further.

“SHD’s passion for innovation, quality and lateral thinking is a perfect fit. With many innovative and challenging projects on the horizon, we are looking forward to achieving our ambitions together.”

SHD’s founding directors Ian Scott and Wendy Broomhead added: “The Ridge brand, culture and strategy represents an excellent synergy for the new home of our precious business that has been so carefully honed over the years.

“We have a meticulous approach that adds value for our clients and this move furthers that aim.”

Scott, Broomhead and former SHD director Kris Clark are now partners of Ridge and will work with the rest of the management team to integrate the two firms.

Jason Howard, North West managing partner at Ridge, added: “Our full-service proposition offers numerous benefits and we look forward to welcoming SHD’s valued people and clients into the business.

“Having so many first-rate colleagues join us will also add considerable value to our existing clients and team.”

Ridge was founded in Oxford in 1946 and will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2021. The firm offers the full spectrum of real estate and construction consultancy services, including town and country planning, project and cost management, architecture, surveying, design, engineering, health and safety, sustainability and expert witness.