International Synergies, a circular economy specialist that has delivered projects in more than 50 countries, has taken office space at Nurton Developments’ 11 Waterloo Street in Birmingham.
The relocation from the Jewellery Quarter places the company at the heart of the city’s commercial district as it looks to grow and diversify its client base over the next five years.
International Synergies helps businesses cut costs and carbon emissions by finding new uses for surplus materials, energy and other resources, connecting organisations across sectors to make what one no longer needs becomes a valuable resource for another.
Founded in Birmingham in 2005, it works with organisations including the European Commission and the United Nations and has worked closely with Birmingham City Council and clients across engineering, construction and infrastructure.
Its founder and chairman, Peter Laybourn, was awarded an OBE in 2025 for services to the green economy and climate action through industrial symbiosis.
Dr Rachel Lombardi, chief executive of International Synergies, said:
“We are a small Birmingham company with a big international reputation. Our new address better reflects that standing and our ambition to build on our public sector relationships by expanding our commercial work.
Being in the city centre brings us closer to clients and collaborators and gives us a strong base for our next stage of growth.
We also see opportunities to work with Nurton Developments, particularly in infrastructure and master planning which they are increasingly involved in, where considering resource use at the outset can deliver benefits throughout a project’s lifetime.”
For Rachel, the city’s industrial heritage remains an important asset for the business.
“Birmingham’s history as the city of a thousand trades is very relevant to what we do today,” she said. “The diversity of industries across the Midlands creates opportunities to connect businesses and make better use of resources across sectors.”
The character and quality of 11 Waterloo Street also helped secure the move, with its conversion from former bank chambers particularly appealing to the team.
Rachel added: “Finding a new purpose for an existing building reflects our belief in recognising value where others might overlook it.
It is a beautiful building, and the offices are finished to a very high standard. There is a lot of natural light and the meeting room is fantastic. We have had nothing but positive feedback from the team and visitors. What’s not to like?”
David Dyas, asset manager at Nurton Developments, said:
“International Synergies demonstrates the depth of specialist expertise in Birmingham and the reach of its businesses. We are delighted to welcome the team to 11 Waterloo Street and provide a home that supports its ambitions.
We are always looking for practical ways to make our schemes more sustainable, and having this expertise within the building opens up some interesting conversations. We look forward to exploring opportunities to work together in the future.”
