微密圈

Earlier this year 微密圈 announced the names of all the firms that made it onto the shortlists for our prestigious annual 微密圈 Awards.

Now we are shining the spotlight on each category in turn and publishing a selection of the images that impressed the judges.

Today鈥檚 shortlist is for Construction Consultant/Surveyor of the Year (more than 100 staff).

Bellrock

Bellrock is redefining building standards through strategic acquisitions, specialist services and long-term client partnerships. Customer satisfaction rose 57% last year, with some teams achieving 100% increases. The firm invests in talent via apprenticeships, CPD, and its Belonging at Bellrock DEI programme.

It supports sustainability with clients and internally, joining the Amazon Climate Pledge and offsetting emissions globally. Bellrock also gives back through volunteering and fundraising, while enabling projects that cut emissions, reduce energy use and support inclusive employment opportunities.

Core Five

In its 13th year 鈥� and first as an employee ownership trust 鈥� Core Five has continued to grow, with 50% expansion over three years. The firm invests in staff development, with six partners rising through the ranks. Its new London office reflects its collaborative ethos, and its culture prioritises wellbeing, diversity and inclusion.

Core Five combines small-firm care with large-firm expertise, underpinned by digital insight. With 81% repeat business, exceptional client feedback and strong procurement success, the firm remains proudly independent and future-focused.

CPC Project Services

CPC Project Services has achieved 17% fee growth and a 25% increase in staff while others downsized 鈥� thanks to a bold pivot from high-profile projects to essential national infrastructure and housing. CPC excels in life sciences and data centres, as well as remediation and regeneration.

As an employee-owned trust, it prioritises training, and 56% of staff are in active career development. With 90.7% repeat business, 82% client satisfaction, and 45% emissions reduction since 2019, CPC combines innovation, delivery and integrity.

Currie & Brown

Currie & Brown is helping clients navigate volatility through AI-led productivity, dynamic cost modelling and energy transition support. Its staff training and wellbeing focus has earned Sunday Times Best Places to Work status, while 20% of UK-Europe staff are graduates or apprentices.

Sustainability is embedded within the firm, which has a 97% BREEAM Outstanding-rated HQ and a 2030 net zero goal. In 2024, its UK teams delivered over 8,000 social value hours, raised 拢28,000 for charity, and planted nearly 10,000 trees.

Drees & Sommer UK

Drees & Sommer is making significant strides on innovation and sustainability. Flagship projects include Peterborough housing scheme Indigo鈥檚 modern construction methods and Oxford Brookes University鈥檚 Headington Hill site with its unique 鈥渂reathing skin鈥� facade.

To address increasing complexity and demand for transparency, the firm has launched a digital project management office service, and has expanded its reach through its Johnston Houston acquisition. Drees & Sommer has also achieved 100% scope 1 and 96% scope 2 carbon cuts since 2017 and delivered 拢120,000 in social value, proving itself a forward-thinking, people-first consultancy.

Fulkers Bailey Russell

Fulkers Bailey Russell blends integrity, innovation and accountability to deliver long-term impact. A certified B Corp with an EcoVadis Silver rating in the 91st percentile, it embeds net zero, circularity and wellbeing into every project, backed by lifecycle assessments and soft landings.

ISO 45001-certified, Fulkers champions safety, inclusion and corporate social responsibility 鈥� empowering staff to give back through volunteering, fundraising and pro bono services. Meanwhile its people thrive through structured career pathways, mentoring, apprenticeships and chartership support. 

Gleeds

For 150 years, Gleeds has shaped the built environment with innovation, insight and responsibility, delivering impact on a global scale. Its digital tools 鈥� Orchestrate, Twin and Visualise 鈥� are transforming project delivery, underpinned by the global Upskill programme. Gleeds鈥� people flourish through leadership development, mentoring and the Construct graduate scheme, achieving an 89% RICS pass rate.

Sustainability runs deep within the business, from working on Europe鈥檚 colocation data centre, powered entirely by renewable energy, to relocating its UK headquarters to 60 Berners Street, a building rated BREEAM Excellent and WELL enabled.

Mace

Mace Consult delivered exceptional global impact in 2024, with 81% of work coming from repeat clients and satisfaction reaching 90%. Across four hubs, the business launched a digitalisation strategy, invested in data, VR and BIM, and secured landmark roles from the Hudson Tunnel Project in New York to Saudi giga-programmes and NHS England鈥檚 New Hospital Programme.

Sustainability achievements included 3.4 million tonnes of client carbon savings, biodiversity gains across 202ha and a 32.8% waste reduction, while the Mace Foundation created 拢933m in social value worldwide.

Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald鈥檚 employee-owned model empowers its people to deliver impact across education, healthcare, housing and infrastructure. In 2024 the business advanced regeneration at Oak Park, supported the New Hospital Programme with modern methods of construction, and played a key role on East West Rail.

Internationally, it advised on MMC in Qatar and provided strategic services to Neom鈥檚 The Line project in Saudi Arabia.

With sustainability embedded, innovative tools like Smart Invest and Target Value Design, and award-winning workplace culture, Mott MacDonald drives transformative, collaborative outcomes.

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB)

RLB, a 100% employee-owned consultancy, continues to grow its global reach with new offices in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Athens and Berlin, alongside innovative services such as embodied carbon calculation and digital social value dashboards.

Guided by values of truth, trust, together and tomorrow, RLB promotes inclusive career development, wellbeing and diversity through mentoring, mental health champions and employee-led communities.

With strong sustainability performance, award-winning industry leadership and more than 4,800 volunteer hours, RLB drives positive change for clients, colleagues and communities worldwide.

Soben, part of Accenture

Soben, part of Accenture, combines global delivery capability with deep sector expertise to provide certainty in cost, schedule and risk across the project lifecycle. Its work with hyperscalers showcases seamless cross-border delivery in data centres, while a UK-wide framework with Aldi demonstrates agility in retail.

With investment in people through the Soben Academy, structured client feedback programmes, and a strong focus on sustainability, wellbeing and social responsibility, Soben is building a consultancy ready for the future.

Turner & Townsend

Turner & Townsend combines global scale with agility, empowering clients to deliver ambitious programmes with confidence. Recent milestones include integrating CBRE鈥檚 project management and building consultancy division and acquiring a majority stake in offshore wind specialist Jumbo Consulting Group, boosting capability in renewables.

With 22,000 employees worldwide, the firm is investing heavily in skills, digital innovation and sustainability. Highlights include the launch of a dedicated client platform, the Hive Platform, making data and insights accessible and transparent, boosting collaboration and decision-making.