Award-winning cost consultant Core Five secures Independence, broadens Ownership, and bolsters Leadership team.

We were founded in 2012, with the Core Five name being derived from our five founding core values of integrity, collaboration, independence, partnership, and innovation. This values-based approach to the Cost Consultant and Employer’s Agent role has resulted in 11 years of growth, with our team now numbering 170 strong operating from London and Birmingham bases and forecasting double digit growth this year with turnover forecast to hit £21m for the year to end March 2024. We have a reputation for working on some of the most challenging, innovative and sustainable schemes in the industry, from Thomas Heatherwick’s award-winning Kinetic Glasshouse at Woolbeding Gardens in West Sussex, to the “tower like no other” at 2 Finsbury Avenue in the City of London.

To set the foundations for a second decade of success and the next phase of our evolution, we are pleased to announce that we have become an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The transition to an EOT allows us to guarantee our long-term independence, whilst broadening ownership and maintaining our commitment to not being beholden to third party owners or debt. Clients will experience no change in the high quality of service they expect from their day-to-day dealings with us. The same leadership and team remains in place, with all of the Core Five Partners being offered opportunities for ownership, and with the same focus on values-based dedicated client service.

James Clark, Founding Partner, says “I am absolutely delighted to announce that we are securing our long-term independence and broadening ownership by becoming an Employee Ownership Trust. This move allows us to continue to provide our esteemed clients with the experience, capabilities and expertise of a larger firm whilst maintaining the values, service, and flexibility of a smaller “family” practice. Barry, Chris, Gerard and I are hugely excited about continuing to deliver this “large firm capability, boutique firm delivery” service to our clients under the aegis of the EOT.”

The principal motivation behind the move to an EOT allows us to bolster the leadership team, in line with our longer-term business plan. Andrew Hyman, Bernard Duffy, David Gabe, Jon Spencer-Hall, and Matt Viall will be taking up roles on the management board and/or EOT Board of Trustees, having worked with the current leadership team for over 50 years combined. This enlargement of the existing leadership team reflects not only the scale of our firm 11 years on from launch but also our plans for the next decade of sustainable organic growth. In addition it enables us to preserve the culture and values that have been the bedrock of our first decade of success.

David Gabe, Partner, comments “Having been part of the Core Five journey for over ten years I am hugely honoured to join the board. As well as securing our long-term independence, the new EOT structure facilitates greater opportunity from within, which underpins our continued aim of being a people focused business. The strength of our service offering has always been centred around our team and creating a progressive environment full of opportunity. I am confident that this transition will enhance this opportunity, and in turn allow us to continue to attract, retain and reward the most talented, passionate and entrepreneurial people in the industry. Through our people and with the support of our clients and fellow consultants, we feel we are well positioned to continue our success through the next decade and beyond.”