A broad portfolio of major projects, bumper financial results and a commitment to staff training and development have given Core Five the entrepreneurial clout to take the top prize
Core Five
Launched in 2012, it鈥檚 particularly impressive that Core Five has scooped this year鈥檚 prize after so few years of trading. Having worked on 20 schemes each worth more than 拢100m last year, it鈥檚 clear that this cost management firm is already a leader in its field. Core Five is working in multiple sectors, including residential, commercial and cultural. Core Five鈥檚 income for 2013/14 increased by 84% to 拢4.9m compared to the previous year and pre-tax profit rose by 66% to a healthy 拢2m. The consultant, founded by former Davis Langdon partners, also grew its staff by 60% to 48 people. Core Five is investing heavily in its people鈥檚 development and training, too, with an approach it calls 鈥渓ifelong learning鈥�, which the judges deemed 鈥渆xcellent鈥�. Overall, they called Core Five鈥檚 awards entry a 鈥渟tandout submission鈥�.
Edmond Shipway
With an enviable 85% repeat business, Edmond Shipway caught the attention of our judges this year. To ensure that it meets clients鈥� expectations, the Nottingham-based firm asks all clients to complete questionnaires to ascertain levels of satisfaction. This well-rounded consultant puts effort into all areas, though: the Shared Success Programme links client feedback to employees鈥� remuneration to boost staff motivation and commitment. Meanwhile, the firm has reduced its energy consumption by 20% with initiatives such as car-sharing incentives and a cycle-to-work scheme. It has also invested in BIM and a London office, as well as Special Projects Team to deliver complex mixed-use schemes.
MAC Construction Consultants
MAC says that being shortlisted in last year鈥檚 黑洞社区 Awards 鈥渞eally supported鈥� the company鈥檚 marketing effort. And the London-based firm is certainly on the rise. It says that its 2013/14 turnover of 拢3.49m is on track to grow to 拢5.45m for 2014/15. This is all the more impressive for having been achieved while repositioning the business, which until two years ago largely served food retail clients. Under a 10-year business plan, MAC is diversifying into many more sectors, including commercial, residential and heritage, while aiming to retain its share of the food retail market. Just two years into the plan MAC鈥檚 non-retail clients are already projected to represent more than half of its customer base in 2014/15.
Quantem Consulting
鈥淧henomenal鈥� is how Quantem describes its performance last year. The London consultant grew both income and profit for 2013/14 by 20%, with turnover reaching 拢4.4m. Staff numbers also rose by around one-fifth, taking the team to 40. Despite a relatively small staff, Quantem has been involved in some of London鈥檚 highest profile projects in the past year. These include residential tower Baltimore Wharf, whose sleek shape and 45 storeys make it a prominent feature on the capital鈥檚 skyline. Quantem is providing project and cost management, CDMC and employer鈥檚 agent services on the project. It also worked on Commodity Quay at St Katherine鈥檚 Dock and the fit-out of Savills鈥� HQ at Margaret Street.
Rise Management Consulting
RISE has positioned itself as offering a fresh and 鈥渉onest鈥� approach. This includes charging a fixed consultancy fee and pioneering a new contract form, PMX, which it says promotes a 鈥渓eaner, more efficient form of construction management鈥�. The approach appears to be paying off, with income for 2013/14 growing by some 110% to 拢2.89m and 0% turnover in staff for the year. The London consultant has also achieved considerable geographical reach. It is operating in many parts of the UK, recently opening an office in Bath, while its overseas work includes an affordable housing project in Sri Lanka and the establishment of a prefabricated housing joint venture with a Chinese company.
Virtus Consult
In 2014, Birmingham-based Virtus Consult added construction management and management consultancy to an already extensive service offering, which includes project and programme management and quantity surveying. The firm has provided its services on a strong portfolio of work in the past 12 months, including a new nuclear reactor manufacturing plant for Rolls-Royce in Derby and a 鈥渞eview of estates function鈥� for Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. Other innovations that caught the eye of the judges include an incentive scheme t o encourage staff members to win new commissions. They also liked Virtus鈥� income growth for 2013/14, which was 111%.
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