Civic bolsters portfolio with acquisition of Watt
The Manchester-based M&E engineering company is the latest to join the multidisciplinary consultancy group, which also includes Civic Engineers, Civic Heritage, Civic Earth, and New Practice.
Dan Watt, founding director of Watt Energy & Consulting Engineers, said this team was familiar with Civic through the company’s Civic Engineers brand, having worked together on multiple projects in the past.
“We have shared values and a real focus on solving problems for our clients, providing them with the most sustainable design solutions that put people and the environment at their heart,” he said.
Watt added: “Joining the wider Civic team will help us to further our ambition of becoming a market leader and enable us to have an even greater impact together.”
Watt was founded in 2015 and has 12 employees. The consultancy, which specialises in M&E, public health building services, and sustainable energy design, has worked on an array of high-profile projects in the past few years – notably Capital&Centric’s £70m Littlewoods revamp in Liverpool and Cole Waterhouse’s £200m Trafford Wharf plans.
The wider Civic group was founded in July 2022 by chief executive Stephen O’Malley, chief operating officer Julian Broster, and chief finance officer Simon Edward. Its board includes non-executive directors Dominic Miller and Michelle McDowell.
Since its inception, Civic has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy. Last year, it announced the launch of ground engineering consultancy Civic Earth. It created Civic Heritage in September this year, a company that is headed up by Ollie Cook and Katie Fletcher. A month later, the group announced its purchase of placemaking specialist New Practice.
Watt’s acquisition is, essentially, the third in three months.
O’Malley acknowledged the influx of announcements over such a short period.
“It has been quite a momentous few months for Civic and it is fantastic to be able to announce the addition of Watt Energy & Consulting Engineers,” he said.
“We have known Dan for a long time and he is a valued collaborator, so this acquisition seems like a very natural fit.”
O’Malley continued: “The whole ethos behind Civic is about us having the ability to make a positive impact and to respond to the climate and societal challenges we are facing.
“We believe by carefully curating a team of experts with shared values and approach, we are offering clients the services they are telling us they need, and the opportunity to really put climate resilience and designing for people at the heart of everything.”
Slater Heelis acted for Watt on the deal with Civic, with Hill Dickinson representing Civic. Cowgills provided corporate finance advice to Civic as well.
