Bucknall Austin rebrands for global expansion strategy

Consultant Bucknall Austin has decided to rename itself Rider Levett Bucknall as part of its transformation into an international practice.

The brand will be launched on Monday. It will mark Bucknall Austin’s merger with Rider Hunt, which operates in Australasia, and with Levett and Bailey, which is based in Asia-Pacific.

The new practice will be headed by Simon Birchall, Bucknall Austin’s managing director, and will have 1,800 staff working out of more than 60 offices across Asia, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

The global practice has been launched to offer a service to multinational clients. Apart from the new name, the former Bucknall Austin will continue to operate as usual, as the new practice allows the consultant to focus on its European and UK client base.

Among the services on offer from Rider Levett Bucknall will be cost consultancy and project management, as well as advisory work in areas including property evaluation, facilities management, procurement and the environment.

It will have 1,800 staff in 60 offices in Asia, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East and America

Birchall said the global practice would boost the firm’s international presence. He said: “The ability to offer staff access to a career in countries across the world has significantly boosted our recruitment drive.”

David Bucknall, Bucknall Austin’s chairman, said: “The global practice will help us to better serve our core clients in the home market.”

The news came as the group was appointed by Bristol-based developer Westmark to project manage the development of an apartment scheme in Barbados.

It has also won a regeneration contract with the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmark project, which awards grants of up to £50m to a range of national regeneration projects. Bucknall Austin is to evaluate the applicants’ schemes.