Zerum
Zerum is a UK-based multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy providing Planning, Project & Development Management, and Cost Management services to developers, landowners, local authorities, and investors, with additional highways advisory through subsidiary Mosodi.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Zerum does
Zerum is a privately held UK multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy founded in 2013 in Manchester by chartered surveyor Anthony Kilbride and former Manchester United footballer-turned-developer Gary Neville. The firm operates three integrated core service lines: Planning (site appraisals, planning applications, appeals, EIA coordination, Section 106 negotiation, expert witness, and professional team management), Project & Development Management (acquisition through procurement and construction delivery across residential, commercial, hotel, leisure, education, health, and infrastructure sectors), and Cost Management (feasibility, cost planning, procurement, employer's agent, fund monitoring, and post-contract cost control). A fourth division, Mosodi, was acquired in 2018 to provide highways and sustainable travel consultancy, serving clients such as Active Travel England, the NHS, and Bradford Council.
The company generates revenue through project-based professional service fees negotiated per engagement, with no publicly disclosed pricing and a stated reliance on long-term client relationships and repeat instructions rather than transactional sales. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting property developers, landowners, local authorities, and investors, supported by reputation-driven marketing (case-study-led website, testimonials, and industry awards) rather than paid advertising. Headcount stands at approximately 30–34 staff across offices in Manchester (headquarters, 11 Peter Street) and Leeds (36-38 The Calls), with the senior team comprising chartered surveyors and town planners averaging 20+ years of experience. In September–October 2024 the firm expanded its partner and shareholder base from two founders to six, adding Nikki Sills, Tom Cook, Andy Duffy, Richard Murphy, and Russell Wright-Turner. Named clients include Scarborough Development Group, Capital & Centric, Platform_, Henry Boot Developments, Elliot Group, HB Villages, Allied London, Cityheart, and University Academy 92, with project mandates spanning the £120m St Michael's Manchester, the £500m Sweet Street West Leeds scheme, and the 568-unit Gorton Street Salford co-living tower.
Zerum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zerum
- Legal name
- Zerum
- Website
- https://zerum.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zerum is a UK-based multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy providing Planning, Project & Development Management, and Cost Management services to developers, landowners, local authorities, and investors, with additional highways advisory through subsidiary Mosodi.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zerum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Property Development Consultancy
- NAICS
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio) (IMAFAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Real Estate Development Asset Management (Project/Construction-to-Stabilization) (BPAJAMAL), Real Estate Transaction Advisory & Due Diligence (FSAEAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Zerum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Zerum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Services Fees: Zerum generates revenue through professional service fees charged to property developers, landowners, and public sector clients for planning consultancy, project and development management, and cost management services. Fees are project-based, typically scoped per engagement, with long-term client relationships generating repeat instructions across multiple phases and projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional consultancy fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Zerum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zerum is a multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy providing three integrated service lines: Planning (development advisory, planning applications, appeals, EIA coordination, and Section 106 negotiation), Project & Development Management (end-to-end coordination of complex developments from acquisition through construction delivery), and Cost Management (feasibility, cost modelling, procurement, contract administration, and Employers Agent services). The firm serves property developers, landowners, local authorities, and investors across the UK, working from conception through delivery on built-environment projects.
Product overview
Zerum is a multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy with over 20 years experience, operating three integrated core service lines: Planning (development advisory and consent services), Project & Development Management (coordination and delivery of complex developments), and Cost Management (financial control and procurement expertise). These services are offered across the UK built-environment sector, working with clients from conception through project delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Planning Provides planning and development advice to property developers, landowners, local authorities, and investors across the UK. Services include site appraisals, pre-application advice, planning applications, professional team management, Section 106 negotiation, public consultation, planning appeals, expert witness work, and EIA coordination.
- Project & Development Management Delivers project management strategy and coordination for complex, large-scale developments across residential, commercial, leisure, hotels, industrial, retail, education, public sector, health and care, infrastructure, and sports/leisure sectors. Manages projects from acquisition, planning, legals, and leasing through procurement and construction delivery.
- Cost Management Provides cost management services including feasibility studies, cost modelling, cost planning, procurement and contract advice, tender documentation, change control, post-contract cost management, final account negotiation, Employers Agent, value management, risk management, peer review, fund monitoring, and reinstatement cost assessments.
Quantifiable outcome
- £120m of investment into Manchester city centre through phase one of St Michael's development, creating 1,800 jobs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Zerum
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Zerum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Zerum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- MosodicoreMosodi, a highways and sustainable travel consultancy, joined the Zerum Group in 2018 as a partner organisation. Mosodi provides sustainable travel consultancy services and operates across Zerum's Manchester and Leeds offices, expanding the group's service offering into highways and sustainable transport advisory. Mosodi's current projects include sustainable travel consultancy for Harworth Group's 740-acre Waverley development in Rotherham, Active Travel England, The NHS, and Bradford Council.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zerum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Carter Jonas: UK national property consultancy offering integrated planning, project management, building consultancy, and rural/residential services. Directly comparable to Zerum in multi-disciplinary mid-market positioning and Planning Team of the Year shortlist competitor.
- Bidwells: UK property consultancy offering planning, project management, building consultancy, and rural/residential services. Closely comparable multi-disciplinary mid-market model.
- DP9: London-based planning consultancy serving major residential, mixed-use, and regeneration schemes. Closest direct competitor on large, complex planning mandates; Planning Team of the Year shortlist peer.
- Gerald Eve: UK property consultancy with strong planning, development, and investment advisory offering. Comparable in multi-disciplinary model and Planning Team of the Year shortlist peer.
- Lichfields: UK planning, development, and regeneration consultancy with strong regional presence. Highly comparable mid-market positioning, planning-led service offering, and Planning Team of the Year shortlist competitor.
- Montagu Evans: UK property consultancy with planning, development, and investment advisory across mixed-use, residential, and regeneration schemes. Direct competitor to Zerum's planning-led model and a Planning Team of the Year shortlist peer.
- Turley: UK planning, design, and heritage consultancy with extensive regeneration and heritage expertise. Comparable planning-led model and Planning Team of the Year shortlist competitor.
- Nexus Planning: UK planning consultancy specialising in development economics, regeneration, and infrastructure planning. Comparable in planning-focused value proposition and Planning Team of the Year shortlist competitor.
- Pegasus Group: UK-based planning, design, and environmental consultancy with strong heritage, residential, and regeneration expertise. Closely comparable in sector mix, planning-led positioning, and Planning Team of the Year shortlist.
Broad incumbents
- Avison Young: Global full-service commercial real estate services firm with significant UK planning and project management capability. Competes with Zerum on large regeneration and mixed-use mandates; Planning Team of the Year shortlist competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zerum social profiles
Digital presenceZerum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zerum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Zerum subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Zerum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zerum 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 Zerum
What does Zerum do?
Zerum is a multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy providing three integrated service lines: Planning (development advisory, planning applications, appeals, EIA coordination, and Section 106 negotiation), Project & Development Management (end-to-end coordination of complex developments from acquisition through construction delivery), and Cost Management (feasibility, cost modelling, procurement, contract administration, and Employers Agent services). The firm serves property developers, landowners, local authorities, and investors across the UK, working from conception through delivery on built-environment projects.
Is Zerum a public or private company?
Zerum is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Zerum founded?
Zerum was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zerum based?
Zerum is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Zerum make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services Fees.
Who are Zerum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Carter Jonas, Bidwells, DP9, Gerald Eve, Lichfields, Montagu Evans, Turley, Nexus Planning and Pegasus Group. Avison Young is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Zerum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zerum.
What industry is Zerum in?
Zerum's product category is Property Development Consultancy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAAAF, Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio), with a secondary code of BPAJAMAL, Real Estate Development Asset Management (Project/Construction-to-Stabilization). Its NAICS code is 541 and its SIC code is 8742.