SME Consulting Firm   of the Year

This award recognises small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) engineering consulting firms in the construction and civil engineering industry that has delivered improved performance during the previous 18 months.

A. Lamb Associates

A. Lamb Associates Limited has been providing specialist commercial and planning services for over 25 years in the construction and engineering industry in the United Kingdom and internationally. The purpose of ALA25 was to mark 25 years in business and provide a road map to harness momentum and build a market leading consultancy. Our objective was to create a stronger, larger, more profitable business that is the market leader in our chosen sectors. We wanted our team to contribute to ALA25 and share in the rewards. The aim was to create sustainable growth by prioritising our specialisms, quality and values. In two years, we have doubled revenues, tripled headcount, increased profitability and expanded operations. We have achieved this by focusing on our core strengths, building meaningful partnerships with clients and by building a brilliant team. We are successful because our team deliver results for our clients.

Driven International

Over the past 18 months, Driven International has grown and expanded their team while working on major projects in the motorsport industry. These include major upgrades to Buddh International Circuit for India’s first ever MotoGP race, designing the Hyderabad Street Circuit for India’s first ever Formula E race, and the resurfacing of the historic Donington Park Circuit for World Superbikes. Driven successfully delivered all three events in 2023, as well as working on multiple other projects in the UK and internationally, helping to improving revenue and profitability year on year since the creation of the company in 2015. Driven have also worked with new partners over the last 18 months to use the latest advancements in technology to provide the best final quality product, and a wide range of services to aid clients from concept all the way to construction.

ECSL

Through the committed support for innovative engineer and delivery solutions, we have driven significant year on year growth where many SME's have failed in the covid and post-covid years. As well as exponential growth in the UK, we have opened two offices and employed 40 engineers in India. In 2024 we are in the process of opening offices in Ireland, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia to support our ambitions in those countries. We have worked hard over the last 4 years to build a company that can deliver to the same quality as most Tier 1 consultancies, whilst holding true to the principals of innovation, social responsibility and sustainability. Our most successful innovation project in the UK has been implementing a fully FRP footbridge on the railway network, fabricated 100% in the UK and including 40% recycled material, following 18 months of research and development. Our commitment to social responsibility has resulted in numerous university and school placements, employing a number of refugees in the UK, sponsoring a local charity in the East Midlands as well as an orphanage of circa 70 children in India, and most recently forming a training partnership with Leicester City Council to train disadvantage youths with the necessary skills and experience to make them employable in the UK rail engineering sector, where we have a chronic shortage of suitable candidates.

Elliott Wood

Following the COVID 19 Pandemic Elliott Wood introduced a new strategy focused on growth and engagement with the wider industry, to increase revenue and grow membership of The Building Society, Elliott Wood’s coworking community for the built environment. This shift focused on expanding its offer beyond structural and civil engineering services to address broader societal challenges and drive change within the industry. The strategic focus on increasing membership numbers and enhancing the diversity of The Building Society community yielded tangible results. Beyond just revenue growth, this approach opened up new avenues for collaboration and partnership with like-minded businesses and organisations. Through strategic alliances and collaborative projects, Elliott Wood was able to extend its reach and amplify its impact, attracting new clients with a shared vision and values.

Environmental Protection Group

Established in 1998, the Environmental Protection Group is a leading geoenvironmental engineering consultancy specialising in sustainable water management, contaminated land remediation and gas protection, environmental monitoring and structural waterproofing. With a team of multi-disciplinary experts, we provide clients with innovative solutions and a comprehensive design service. Combining regulatory compliance with complementary ideas and technologies our priority is to deliver robust, leading edge, cost-effective design solutions. Striving to maintain consistent and transparent standards, the expertise in the team ensures clients are fully supported from the first initial call through to delivery of their services. In the last year, EPG has gone from strength to strength, implementing strategies surrounding market penetration, brand awareness and product development to propel them as one of the leading innovators in environmental engineering. 

Expedition Engineering

Expedition Infrastructure Performance Consulting was launched following the success of our productivity strategy for HS2, which has gone on to shape the work of the Infrastructure Client Group and beyond. Through our strategic engineering-led consultancy we have enabled significant savings in cost, carbon, time and risk for more than 20 large infrastructure and contracting clients, with value improvements being carried forward to future work for continuing impact. As a social enterprise, our profits are re-invested so although we are small, we drive the industry forward. Initiatives like the IStructE climate emergency task group, ICE report on Embodied Biodiversity, and ICG Low Carbon Concrete Accelerator allow us to make an impact far beyond our projects and across the entire industry. According to Sir John Armitt, NIC Chair, “Expedition bring rare engineering fire-power….innovating to drive improvements in efficiency and effectiveness for its clients and the construction sector at large.

HJH Commercial Consultants

HJH Commercial Consultants, a leader in Quantity Surveying and Project Management within the renewable energy and utilities sector, has experienced significant growth by focusing on sustainable practices and community integration. Our collaboration with notable clients like Keltbray and OCU Group on major projects, including the Vyrnwy Aqueduct and Limekilns Windfarm, underscores our commitment to quality and efficiency. Our work has led to advancements in solar energy, enhancing efficiency by reducing client costs and value engineering, supporting the community and reducing environmental impact. Our success over the past 18 months reflects not only our growth but also our role as a model for sustainable development in our industry. Our bid for the 2024 NCE Award highlights our innovative strategies, dedication to sustainability, and community-centric growth.

JNP Group Consulting Engineers

JNP Group is delighted to report that we have achieved remarkable growth, specifically through our rail division as below. • 60% revenue increase. • Increased profit margin in the rail sector of 7%. • Average project size and complexity grew by approximately 25%. • Employee numbers overall have increased by 10%. Our trained staff in rail, for example with PTS qualifications, have increased by 30%. 1. This has been achieved due to the implementation of a clear step-change in our operations to enhance efficiency, quality, and client satisfaction as follows. 2. A top-down restructuring of our company hierarchy to align with our strategic goals and enhance collaboration and accountability. 3. Senior leadership analysis of existing industry relationships and renewed focus on sectors with clear opportunities. A training and development programme to equip employees with the skills and knowledge to succeed and deliver.

MHB Consultants

MHB Consultants, an employee-owned civil engineering firm, has transformed itself in the past 18 months through innovative strategies which included establishing an Employee Ownership Trust, diversifying services, expanding geographically and investing in its people. We achieved 10% revenue growth, 24% increase in staff numbers, and expanded our geographical reach, opening our newest office in London in May 2022. Our commitment to client value and technical excellence is illustrated by the case study on Alyth Substation carried out for BAM Nuttall. Close collaboration with other stakeholders is demonstrated by our Ground Engineering award with QTS. Client's appreciation of our approach is demonstrated through the Testimonials included as an Appendix to this submission. This, in addition to our commitment to employee well-being, makes us a strong competitor for the ICE’s “SME Consulting Firm of the Year” award.

Mine Environment Management

Mine Environment Management is a specialised geoscience and engineering consultancy based in the UK but working across the global mining sector. Started in 2018 with two members of staff and a handful of clients, turnover has increased year on year since. During the past 18 months we have delivered growth by doubling the workforce from five (2022) to ten (2023), invested in a new branch office, grown our client base 850%, increased revenue 400% and strengthened our presence in Scandinavia (and EU) by opening an office in Sweden. MEM has invested into green technology research by collaborating with UK/European partners as part of the C-Sink consortium (carbon capture technology) winning a competitive funding round worth >7 million €. MEM has also formed a joint venture (CET Ltd) with a partner which is developing sustainable water treatment technology, and developed a fully integrated laboratory-consulting service by collaborating with partner Geochemic Ltd.

PJA

PJA are a small company doing big company things. Our upward success across a broad range of disciplines is strongly evidenced by the development and delivery of company growth, projects and services. Our integrated service offering of engineering, transport and placemaking provides our clients and partners a unique insight into interrelated service areas and gives us a bespoke offering valuable to the success of any built environment project. This together with our committed investment in training from within, strong collaborative working relationships with clients and partners and dedication to technical excellence ensures PJA is a company continually delivering innovation, quality and value.

Rubicon Wigzell

Rubicon Wigzell has a 15 year track record of continually improving performance along the value stream for construction and related industries. In the past year we have notably increased our turnover through the ongoing delivery of our high quality, trustworthy service, allowing the business to invest in developing our Associate Team and customer offerings, helping RW stand apart from our competitors. Ours is a people business where improvement happens through human intervention, performance increases as people progress the way in which they think. RW plays an integral role facilitating customers along this journey to become high performing projects and teams.