Hoare Lea
Hoare Lea LLP is a UK-founded (1862), Tetra Tech-owned multidisciplinary engineering consultancy delivering MEP, acoustics, fire, lighting, digital, vertical transportation and sustainability design services to enterprise and public-sector clients across 12 UK offices and several international locations, with deep specialisation in science and research, healthcare, airports and data centres.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1862
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hoare Lea does
Hoare Lea LLP is a UK-headquartered engineering consultancy, founded in 1862 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tetra Tech UK Holdings Limited. The firm delivers multidisciplinary building engineering services spanning mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) engineering, acoustics, fire engineering, lighting design, vertical transportation, security, and sustainability and Net Zero Carbon consulting. It also operates a Digital Solutions practice integrating ICT, audiovisual, building management systems and cyber security. Service delivery is built on building performance simulation, BIM360-aligned workflows, and specialist design tools (e.g., daylight renders tested under artificial sky, Passivhaus design methodology, TM66 circular economy lighting assessment).
The firm operates from 12 UK offices — Bristol (registered headquarters), London, Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Plymouth and Bournemouth — plus international entities and project offices in France (Paris branch opened 22 August 2013), Spain (Madrid Permanent Establishment), the Republic of Ireland (Limerick), Jersey, Abu Dhabi (Hoare Lea Expert Services Middle East LLC) and Denmark (Copenhagen project office for the Bispebjerg Hospital with COWI). It serves enterprise and public-sector clients across technically complex sectors including science and research facilities, healthcare, airports, data centres, commercial real estate and hospitality, with disclosed reference projects for the University of Oxford (Life and Mind Building, 25,000 sqm, Passivhaus design, 40% carbon reduction on Part L), Heathrow Airport (Terminal 2A lighting design, 180,000 sqm, 40.5% CO2 reduction vs. predecessor, BREEAM Excellent, Skytrax World's Best Airport Terminal 2018), Gatwick Airport, Capital Region of Denmark, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Miiro Hotels and Network Rail/Birmingham City Council.
The business model is project-based professional services: fees are quoted per engagement based on scope, complexity and duration, typically delivered as multi-year contracts through direct enterprise and government client engagement rather than product or SaaS distribution. The firm holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 certifications, Constructionline Gold and SSIP Acclaim accreditation, and works within BREEAM, NABERS, WiredScore, SmartScore and WELL Building Standard frameworks. It is a CIBSE Patron member and one of three founding organisational partners of the UK Green Building Council, giving it embedded influence in UK building-services standards and regulatory consultation channels.
Hoare Lea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hoare Lea
- Legal name
- Hoare Lea LLP
- Website
- https://hoarelea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1862
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Hoare Lea LLP is a UK-founded (1862), Tetra Tech-owned multidisciplinary engineering consultancy delivering MEP, acoustics, fire, lighting, digital, vertical transportation and sustainability design services to enterprise and public-sector clients across 12 UK offices and several international locations, with deep specialisation in science and research, healthcare, airports and data centres.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hoare Lea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Engineering Consultancy Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Administrative and Support Services (561)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homeowners Association (HOA) Management (BPAJAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Association Maintenance, Vendor & Capital Project Management (BPAJAHAM), HOA / Condominium Association Management (BPAJAFAH)
Keywords
Where Hoare Lea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices18 records
Markets served
Hoare Lea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Engineering Consultancy Services: Professional engineering consultancy fees for complex building design projects. Services include MEP engineering, acoustics, fire engineering, lighting design, sustainability consulting, digital solutions, and other multidisciplinary engineering services delivered on a project-by-project basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based consultancy fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels12 records
Hoare Lea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hoare Lea is an engineering consultancy that sells multidisciplinary building services design and advisory services, including MEP (mechanical, electrical and public health) engineering, acoustics, fire engineering, lighting design, vertical transportation, digital/ICT solutions, security, and sustainability/Net Zero Carbon consulting. These services are delivered on a project-by-project basis to enterprise clients including developers, architects, contractors, government bodies and end users across the UK and selected international markets.
Product overview
Hoare Lea is an award-winning engineering consultancy offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated engineering and design services. The core offering centers on MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Public Health) engineering, complemented by specialized services including Lighting Design, Acoustics, Fire Engineering, Digital Solutions (ICT, AV, BMS, Cyber Security), Vertical Transportation, and Security. The firm operates across key sectors including Science & Research facilities, Data Centres, Transport (airports, rail), Hospitality, Healthcare (hospitals), and Commercial buildings. Their services are delivered through specialized teams that collaborate on multidisciplinary projects, with a strategic focus on human-centric and planet-conscious design principles, particularly in sustainability and Net Zero Carbon consulting. The consultancy maintains a presence across multiple UK offices and international locations, serving as part of the Tetra Tech global group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Public Health Engineering) Comprehensive mechanical, electrical and public health engineering consultancy services for buildings, covering heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical distribution and plumbing systems design. Delivered to enterprise clients on complex building projects.
- Lighting Design Lighting design services including daylight design, environmental lighting and CGI visualisation, focused on human-centric and energy-efficient solutions for diverse building types including airports, hotels, bridges and heritage structures.
- Acoustics Acoustics consultancy covering environmental, industrial and performance-space acoustic services, including noise surveys, building acoustics, expert witness representation and studio/club acoustic design.
- Digital Solutions Integrated digital building services combining ICT infrastructure, audiovisual systems, Building Management Systems (BMS) and cyber security to deliver smart, connected building environments and meet certifications such as WiredScore and SmartScore.
- Vertical Transportation Vertical transportation design services for elevators, escalators and moving walks, including lifecycle planning, dynamic traffic analysis and simulation for optimal people flow in buildings.
- Fire Engineering Fire engineering services including fire detection system design, suppression systems design and fire safety strategy for building compliance and occupant protection.
- Security Security systems design and consultancy including access control, surveillance and integrated security solutions for buildings and facilities.
- Sustainability & Net Zero Carbon Consulting Sustainability consulting services including net zero carbon strategies, decarbonisation planning, environmental assessments and the firm's Five Capitals approach for buildings and organisations.
- Science & Research Facilities Engineering Specialised engineering design for research laboratories, containment suites, clean rooms and commercial science facilities, serving higher education, government and commercial science clients across the Oxford-Cambridge-London golden triangle and beyond.
- Data Centre Consulting Data centre planning and design consultancy including energy efficiency optimisation, cooling systems, grid/utility advisory and Societal Insights research for sustainable data centre development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% carbon reduction on Part L regulations for University of Oxford Life and Mind Building
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Hoare Lea
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Hoare Lea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Hoare Lea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)coreHoare Lea is one of the three founding organisational partners of UKGBC, providing expertise and resources to support key programmes including Advancing Net Zero, Resilience & Nature, and Regenerative Places. The partnership involves active participation in national regulatory consultations and industry leadership.
- Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)coreHoare Lea is a CIBSE Patron member, supporting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking in the building services engineering community. Employees have served as Vice Presidents and the firm participates in various CIBSE groups and panels.
- COWIcoreHoare Lea is working with COWI and the Capital Region of Denmark on the new Bispebjerg Hospital project in Copenhagen. This is a multidisciplinary design team resolving technical issues and completing design ahead of main contractor procurement.
- Capital Region of DenmarkcoreClient partner for the new Bispebjerg Hospital project. Hoare Lea is providing MEP, ICT, building management systems, building physics, acoustics, daylight and vertical transportation services for the 69,000m² hospital.
- Miiro HotelsflagshipLong-term partnership with Miiro hotel group for lighting design services across multiple hotel properties. Hoare Lea has delivered 5 hotel collaborations in 4 European cities including Paris, Barcelona, Gstaad, and Vienna. Partnership involves embedding lighting into brand identity from day one.
- Luis Vidal + ArchitectscoreArchitectural partner for Heathrow Terminal 2A project. Hoare Lea's Lighting Design team worked closely with the architect on the award-winning terminal design, using daylight renders and scale models tested in artificial sky conditions.
- Tetra TechcoreHoare Lea is a subsidiary of Tetra Tech UK Holdings Limited. Tetra Tech's anonymous online reporting portal and Ethics Hotline are used for whistleblowing. Tax strategy is governed at the Tetra Tech UK Holdings level.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hoare Lea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WSP: Global engineering consultancy with deep UK presence across MEP, sustainability, acoustics and lighting design. Direct competitor for Hoare Lea's core building services work on airports, healthcare and commercial real estate.
- Arup: Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy with strong UK MEP, acoustics, fire engineering and sustainability practices. Competes with Hoare Lea on complex buildings including healthcare, research and transport infrastructure.
- Buro Happold: UK-headquartered engineering consultancy with comparable building services, sustainability and lighting capabilities. Direct competitor for Hoare Lea's complex-sector work in science, healthcare and cultural venues.
- Mott MacDonald: Global engineering and development consultancy with significant UK building services practice. Overlaps with Hoare Lea on healthcare, higher education, transport and large-scale infrastructure.
- AtkinsRéalis: Engineering consultancy with UK building services expertise across transport, healthcare and defence. Direct competitor for Hoare Lea's public-sector and complex-building mandates.
- Ramboll: Nordic-origin engineering consultancy with growing UK MEP and sustainability presence. Comparable to Hoare Lea on Net Zero Carbon and complex sector projects including science and healthcare.
- Sweco: European engineering consultancy with UK acquisitions in building services and sustainability. Competes with Hoare Lea on commercial real estate and transport-sector projects.
- Hilson Moran: UK engineering consultancy closely comparable in size and specialism, focused on MEP, sustainability and smart buildings for commercial real estate and data centres.
- Cundall: Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy with strong UK and Asia-Pacific presence in MEP, sustainability and acoustics. Closest peer by headcount and service mix.
Broad incumbents
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with a broad UK building engineering practice. Competes with Hoare Lea but operates across wider infrastructure segments including transport, water and environment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hoare Lea social profiles
Digital presenceHoare Lea compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Hoare Lea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hoare Lea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Hoare Lea subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Hoare Lea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hoare Lea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hoare Lea
What does Hoare Lea do?
Hoare Lea is an engineering consultancy that sells multidisciplinary building services design and advisory services, including MEP (mechanical, electrical and public health) engineering, acoustics, fire engineering, lighting design, vertical transportation, digital/ICT solutions, security, and sustainability/Net Zero Carbon consulting. These services are delivered on a project-by-project basis to enterprise clients including developers, architects, contractors, government bodies and end users across the UK and selected international markets.
Is Hoare Lea a public or private company?
Hoare Lea is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Hoare Lea founded?
Hoare Lea was founded in 1862. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Hoare Lea based?
Hoare Lea is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hoare Lea make money?
One revenue line is on record: engineering Consultancy Services.
Who are Hoare Lea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WSP, Arup, Buro Happold, Mott MacDonald, AtkinsRéalis, Ramboll, Sweco, Hilson Moran and Cundall. AECOM is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Hoare Lea have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hoare Lea.
What industry is Hoare Lea in?
Hoare Lea's product category is Engineering Consultancy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAHAB, Homeowners Association (HOA) Management, with a secondary code of BPAJAHAM, Association Maintenance, Vendor & Capital Project Management. Its NAICS code is 54132 and its SIC code is 7340.