Ridge secures £40m investment from private equity investor to grow its expertise

Horizon’s investment supports Ridge’s next phase of its growth plan, which aims to expand its expertise and nurture talent.

Ridge’s recent expansion saw it grow from 577 people and £61m turnover in 2020 to 1,000 people and a forecast £105m in 2023 across its 12 UK offices. Strategic acquisitions in the last three years have included Scott Hughes Design and Projex.

Ridge’s multi-disciplinary offering to clients, which includes architecture, building services, engineering, planning, surveying, sustainability and transport, will be expanded by investing in people across its core disciplines as well as through new acquisitions.

Adrian O’Hickey, Ridge senior partner, said: “This is a transformational deal for Ridge – a catalyst for some of the most ambitious changes in our strategy. We’ve already been successful in turning up the dial on this business, introducing new initiatives and developing our people.

"We want to continue that progress, with the benefit of new investment, while maintaining our core values of quality, collaboration and agility all the way.

“Progressive growth is crucial for us and that means creating better and more sustainable places while offering cutting edge services for our clients and career opportunities for our colleagues.

“Horizon Capital’s focus on professional services and technology makes them a strong fit for Ridge and protects the personal culture of our 75-year-old business. Horizon understands the personal touch that distinguishes the Ridge culture and our willingness to exploit the latest technology to work more efficiently and more accurately.”

Through its investment in Ridge, Horizon Capital is adding built environment services to its portfolio of 14 technology services, business services, software and data companies.

Horizon managing partner, Luke Kingston, said, “Horizon is providing the first institutional capital to Ridge in its 75-year history. Its partners have already taken opportunities for sustained growth in recent years, and we will help them to be even more ambitious in the firms and talent they reach out to.”