Double Acquisition Makes Building Control Inspectors Number One

SOCOTEC UK has completed the double acquisition of two building control Approved Inspector companies, expanding its turnover to £200m and its workforce to 2,000 people.

Established in 2007, Approved Inspectors, Quadrant Building Control doubled in size from 2018 to 2021. The company employs 140 surveyors and administrators in 16 offices nationwide. It has approved over 50,000 Building Regulations applications in England and Wales.

Quadrant board member Paul Knight said, “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.”

Double Acquisition

The second acquisition, Shore, was first established in 2002, as a professional provider of consultancy services in Building Control, Health and Safety, and Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM), in both commercial and residential sectors. Based in Essex, the company employs 40 surveyors and CDM consultants and covers projects from minor buildings works to complex multi-million-pound developments.

Kevin Savage, MD at Shore, said: “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 leaders 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 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.”

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