Consultancy looks abroad as end-of-year results show growth beyond London base
Alinea could be an international business within the next five years, having already branched out from its London base to work on projects in other parts of the UK such as Edinburgh and Birmingham, the firm said this week.
Outlining the company’s end-of-year results exclusively to Building, Iain Parker, partner in Alinea, said the rapidly growing consultancy was targeting international growth.
Parker (pictured) said: “In the next 4-5 years I think we’ll be working internationally because we’re seeing more and more chances to do that […] However, we’ll only do it if the project, client and environment’s right.”
Richard Taylor, Parker’s fellow partner, added: “Certainly in the last six months we’ve seen more opportunities come through.”
Parker also did not rule out the consultancy setting up a new office outside of the capital.
Founded in 2013 by former David Langdon and EC Harris partners Paul Allen, Iain Parker, Steve Watts, Paul Zuccherelli, Mark Lacey and Richard Taylor, Alinea now has 14 partners and an 84-strong workforce - including nine new employees over the last year.
The firm posted a 28% jump in turnover to £10.5m over the year to May 2017, up from £8.2m, and is targeting a turnover of £11.5m for the company’s current financial year – its fifth in operation.
The company did not disclose its profit figures.
Having experienced a quick growth spurt, Parker said: “Obviously we want to be sensible, we want to continue to grow, but we don’t need to get to 150-200 people.”
Taylor added that Alinea’s recruitment strategy is centred around diversification and a managed growth business plan.
The firm is particularly keen to grow its specialist skills, such as its MEP team, which is now 10-strong.
Alinea has also over the last year entered into the education sector and is doing some work for the University of London, having already entered the health sector via a collaboration with fellow consultant Mesh.
The firm’s other current projects include the £1.4bn revamp of Brent Cross shopping centre by Hammerson and Standard Life; the expansion of the British Library’s Kings Cross campus; and the regeneration of 62 acres at Silvertown in east London.
Alinea is also working on a clutch of towers in London’s Square Mile, including Lipton Rogers’ mammoth skyscraper, 22 Bishopsgate, Mitsubishi Estate’s Wilkinson Eyre-redesigned plans for 6-8 Bishopsgate and Singaporean investor UOL Group’s hotel tower at 150 Bishopsgate.
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