UK multidisciplinary built environment consultancy Ridge has secured investment from global private markets manager CVC, to support the continued growth of the business, with Ridge's Equity Partners remaining significant shareholders. CVC acquires its stake from Horizon Capital, Ridge's partner since April 2023.
Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Oxford, Ridge helps clients turn complex briefs into buildings and infrastructure that perform in the real world. Its interdisciplinary teams support clients across the full project lifecycle - from planning and advisory through design and engineering to programme and project management - combining design brilliance with practical delivery across every sector of the built environment.
The investment follows a period of sustained success for the partner-led consultancy. Since 2022, Ridge has grown revenues at a ~23% CAGR and has more than doubled its workforce, from around 800 people to ~1,650 across 16 UK offices.
Ridge's growth has been predominantly organic. Senior hires have opened new services and sectors - including defence & security, science, healthcare, education and infrastructure - while Ridge's existing teams have developed new capabilities and expanded the firm’s offices across the country. During this time Ridge has worked on numerous flagship projects, including Manchester's skyline, motorsport venues globally, the Northern Line extension and energy efficiency upgrades for Marks & Spencer. Growth has been underpinned by long-standing client relationships, with ~88% of revenues coming from repeat business.
Selective acquisitions have complemented this performance, adding specialist capability - from data centres and motorsport tracks to masterplanning and project controls - and extending Ridge into Wales and the South West, where acquired offices have since grown into full multidisciplinary practices.
Partnering with CVC will enable Ridge to continue investing in its proposition for clients and its people, as well as its capacity to take on larger and more complex work - driving continued organic growth and strategic M&A. The investment will build on the partner-led model at the heart of Ridge's success.
Adrian O'Hickey, Senior Partner at Ridge, said: "Securing investment of this calibre is a testament to what our people have achieved - a business that has doubled in size while staying true to what makes it Ridge. This next chapter isn't about Ridge becoming a different business - it's about giving us the scale and capability to grow as we always have: delivering exceptional work, bringing more outstanding people into the business and staying focused on our clients. CVC understands the model that got us here and brings the resources and reach to help us go further."
Dominic Murphy, Managing Partner at CVC, said: "We are delighted to partner with Adrian and the team, who have built a differentiated business characterised by a multidisciplinary offering and strong regional presence, with deep client relationships and substantial runway for continued growth."
Udaibir Banga, Managing Director at CVC, said: "We have been particularly impressed by the quality and ambition of the team, and the entrepreneurial culture and operating model they have fostered at Ridge. We look forward to working in partnership to further build on these strong foundations."
Luke Kingston, Managing Partner at Horizon Capital, said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Adrian and the wider partnership over the last three years. The business has grown significantly while retaining its absolute commitment to exceptional client delivery, which is at the heart of its success. We wish the team every success on the next stage of its journey."