London QS CM Parker Browne has increased turnover by 27% in the past year, writes Roxane McMeeken. Its strong performance is partly down to the firm doubling the size of its planning supervisor services arm.

Profit was up 22% for the year ended 31 March 2006, while turnover rose from £4.02m to £5.1m. Over the past three years turnover has increased by 50%. The firm employs 59 staff, up from 53 a year ago.

Graham Harvey Browne, CMPB's senior partner, put the results down to winning new clients and offering a broader range of services to existing clients. CMPB won at least 13 new clients during the year (see box) including Unilever and Colliers CRE. It also doubled the turnover of its planning supervisor and heath & safety consultancy. The consultancy, which contributes 8% of overall turnover, or £400,000, offers services such as advice on complying with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Browne said the results were also due to key promotions within the company, including Robert Ebdon and Rob Buckley. The two were made salaried partners in April 2000 and equity partners in 2003.

He said: "Promoting the right people helps motivate them to drive the business forward. I like to promote people who would like my job - it keeps me on my toes and it means they are hungry."

I like to promote people who would like my job

Graham Harvey Browne, senior partner, CMPB

CMPB recently switched from partnership to LLP. It has 13 partners, who now become members. Of these, 10 are equity partners and 3 are salaried. In April CMPB promoted three staff to partner, Stan Inskip, Steve Jopson and Stuart Strachan.

CMPB is poised to form an alliance with four other firms and it also plans to make acquisitions in Scotland, Sheffield and Leeds. It recently acquired John Cadman Associates, a small consultancy specialising in the sports sector.

CMPB's first results as an LLP will be out in a year's time.

Source

QS News