Fifth office opened by Focus Consultants

Chris Smith, newly promoted Focus Consultants Associate being welcomed to Newark by Alex Hole, Director of MES building solutions.

Multi-disciplinary firm Focus Consultants has opened an additional office after winning a raft of new contracts in the area.

The company has launched a new branch office in Newark, Nottinghamshire, next door to its sister firm Midland Energy Services Ltd (MES Building Solutions).

The move will allow closer co-operation between the two organisations, particularly on compliance work in the construction and building sector. It will also provide a base for the Focus team working on a number of recently won contracts in the Newark and Lincolnshire area.

The firm has been appointed as quantity surveyor for the proposed conservation and repair work to be undertaken at Newark Castle. It is also working as project manager on the £3 million Southwell Minster Leaves of Southwell project – the National Lottery-funded project to protect, interpret and better present the late 13th Century stone carvings of plants, animals and green men that decorate the Minster’s Chapter House. In addition, Focus is also undertaking work on a number of housing projects in Newark and Balderton and a range of NHS projects in Grantham, Boston and Lincoln.

The new office is a fifth branch for Focus, which has its head office in Nottingham, and is being led by chartered surveyor Chris Smith, who has been promoted to Associate.

Partner at Focus Consultants Kevin Osbon, who lives at nearby Fiskerton, near Southwell, and who is also a director of MES, said: “We are very pleased to be launching our fifth office for Focus Consultants, as the company continues to expand. It will allow us to forge closer ties with MES, working together for the benefit of our clients, particularly in areas of compliance such as ‘rights of light’ and party wall surveying.

“The new office in Newark will also be the perfect base from which to handle the growing number of high-profile contract appointments that Focus has won in the locality. The Focus team would like to congratulate Chris Smith on his promotion and new role, and we look forward to increasing our business presence within the Newark area.”

The new office, based at Beacon Hill Office Park, Newark, is next door to sustainable building consultancy MES. Focus acquired a controlling interest in the firm in 2016.

MES CEO Alex Hole said: “We are delighted to welcome Focus Consultants to Newark and are keen to build on the strong links that we have created between us, so that we can continue to develop the services we provide.”

Chris, who joined the Boston office of Focus in July 2006 and undertakes a range of work for the company from building surveying to energy carbon sustainability services, added: “I am proud to have been appointed to head up Focus’ fifth office. Newark is an area that I know well, and I am looking forward to making additional contacts in the vicinity.”

The new office will have an opening team of six, taken from within the company, with an additional job opportunity for a new construction/cost consultant to join the business.

Focus, which is based at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, also has offices in London, Leicester and Boston. It was founded in 1994 and has expertise in a wide range of fields, including building surveying, project management and sustainable development support (ECS).

The company also has expertise in funding and economic development, funding applications, economic impact appraisals, business plans, and research and evaluation. Since 1994, Focus has secured for clients more than £1 billion of grants for projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.9 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country.