Quintessa
Quintessa is an employee-owned UK scientific and mathematical consultancy that delivers risk assessment, performance modelling, and decision support to government and enterprise clients in nuclear, carbon capture, and subsurface sectors, anchored by proprietary AMBER, QPAC, and TESLA software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersHenley On Thames, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Quintessa does
Quintessa Limited is a UK-based, employee-owned scientific and mathematical consultancy founded in 1999 and headquartered in Henley-on-Thames, with a secondary office in Warrington. The firm delivers risk assessment, performance assessment, geosciences, materials modelling, decision support, and training services primarily to public and private organisations in the nuclear, carbon capture and storage (CCS), subsurface space, and renewable energy sectors. Core technical work centres on systems-level mathematical modelling for long-timescale environmental, geological, and nuclear safety problems, including geological disposal of radioactive waste, AGR reactor inspection, and CO2 storage risk evaluation.
The company's product portfolio combines three flagship in-house software platforms — AMBER (3D compartment modelling of contaminants), QPAC (general-purpose coupled-process modelling including THMC), and TESLA (decision support using Evidence Support Logic) — with a long tail of custom software developed for individual clients (CHANSELA, CoreStats, QuinStats for EDF Energy; STMAN, PICNIC, SwiBAC for Nagra; FracAffinity, PARIZADE for JAEA; PRISM for the UK Food Standards Agency; RCLEA for Defra). Quintessa also operates two online databases, the CO2 FEP Database with over 1,000 registered users and the NEA FEP Database for the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.
Revenue is generated through four streams: bespoke professional services engagements, software licensing and support, custom software development, and tailored training courses. Distribution is direct and expert-led, with new business originating primarily from scientific publications, international conferences, regulatory relationships, and long-term client engagements. Pricing is bespoke project-based; free demo versions of select software are available for download. There is no external investment, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue, while employee ownership and 25 years of continuous operation (celebrated in 2024) reflect a stable, niche consultancy model.
Quintessa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Quintessa
- Legal name
- Quintessa Limited
- Website
- https://quintessa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Quintessa is an employee-owned UK scientific and mathematical consultancy that delivers risk assessment, performance modelling, and decision support to government and enterprise clients in nuclear, carbon capture, and subsurface sectors, anchored by proprietary AMBER, QPAC, and TESLA software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Quintessa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific and Mathematical Consultancy
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) & Nuclear Codes Compliance (ASME, RCC-M, etc.) (EUAKAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO), IT Governance, Risk & Compliance (IT GRC) Platforms (HDAEALAK), Standards, Certification & Compliance (RECs/GOs, sustainability reporting) (EUAMANAJ)
Keywords
Where Quintessa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Henley On Thames
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Quintessa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Scientific and Mathematical Consultancy: Technical and strategic consultancy services to public and private science-based organisations in energy and environment sectors. Includes risk assessment, performance assessment, geosciences, materials modelling, and decision support engagements.
- Scientific Software Products: Licensing and support of proprietary software products including AMBER, QPAC, TESLA and custom software tools. Includes training courses and ongoing support.
- Custom Software Development: Partnership-based development of bespoke software solutions for specific client needs with training and continuing support.
- Training Services: Tailored training courses in core competence areas and associated software packages.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Quintessa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Quintessa provides scientific and mathematical consultancy, technical and strategic support, contract research, and proprietary software to public and private science-based organisations in the nuclear, energy, and environment sectors. Core service lines include risk and performance assessment, geosciences, materials modelling, decision support, mathematics, and training. The company also develops, licenses, and supports proprietary modelling software such as AMBER, QPAC, and TESLA, and builds custom software for clients including regulators, nuclear operators, and energy companies.
Product overview
Quintessa offers a portfolio of scientific and mathematical software products comprising three main general-purpose tools (AMBER for compartment modelling, TESLA for decision support, and QPAC for coupled-process modelling) along with multiple custom-built software applications for specific client needs and free downloadable tools. AMBER enables 3D dynamic compartment modelling for contaminant transport; TESLA provides structured decision support using Evidence Support Logic; QPAC handles general-purpose mathematical modelling including coupled THMC processes. Custom software includes domain-specific tools such as CHANSELA for nuclear reactor inspection, CoreStats for graphite core analysis, and various radionuclide transport codes. The company also provides online databases and applications accessible via the internet.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1000 registered users for CO2 FEP Database
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Quintessa
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Quintessa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature10 records
Quintessa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.
- Sellafield LtdcoreQuintessa is one of ten Supply Chain Partners awarded a contract on Sellafield Ltd's Enabling Innovation Framework 4, providing innovation support for nuclear decommissioning projects.
- Nagra (Swiss National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste)coreOngoing development of custom software tools including STMAN, PICNIC, and SwiBAC. Quintessa provides radiological modelling support for Swiss nuclear waste disposal programme.
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)coreDevelopment of custom software including FracAffinity and PARIZADE. Participation in Long-Term Cement Studies (LCS) project alongside JAEA, Nagra, NDA, Posiva and SKB.
- Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)corePart of consortium (ASSIST with Galson Sciences and AREVA RMC) for NDA Radioactive Waste Management Directorate framework. Also part of 18-organisation consortium led by Amec for NDA RWMD research services.
- AMECcoreLeading consortium for NDA RWMD research services. Consortium partner for ACSIS software development for NDA RWMD.
- EDF Energy (formerly British Energy)coreDevelopment of multiple custom software tools including QuinStats, CoreStats, and CHANSELA for nuclear reactor inspection and graphite core modelling.
- British Geological Survey (BGS)moderateCollaboration on CO2 storage modelling, geothermal modelling projects, and soil-plant model development for the Latera site in Italy.
- DECOVALEXmoderateInternational research collaboration project (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments) modelling coupled THMC processes in geological environments. Quintessa participates with University of Edinburgh.
- Ontario Power Generation (OPG)coreQuintessa-led partnership (with Geofirma Engineering and SENES Consultants) completed postclosure safety assessment for OPG's proposed Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Waste in Ontario, Canada.
- Food Standards AgencymoderateDevelopment and ongoing updates to PRISM food chain modelling software for radiological exposure assessment.
- EC CO2ReMoVe ProjectmoderateSix-year EU research programme on CO2 storage with over 30 partners. Quintessa contributed performance assessment methods and tools.
- RISCS ProjectmoderateEC and industry project led by British Geological Survey researching potential environmental impacts of geological CO2 storage. Quintessa contributed to impact scenarios analysis.
- EC CARBOWASTE ProjectminorEuropean project under 7th EURATOM Framework Programme addressing treatment and disposal of irradiated graphite. Quintessa supports NDA RWMD participation.
- IAEAmoderateQuintessa staff act as invited experts for IAEA workshops on radioactive waste management, borehole disposal of sealed sources, and safety assessment methodologies in various countries.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Quintessa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AECOM: Global engineering, environmental and construction services firm with nuclear decommissioning and environmental remediation capabilities across the UK, US and Canada; competes for and delivers comparable large programme advisory work.
- AtkinsRéalis: Global engineering services firm (formerly Atkins/SNC-Lavalin) with a substantial nuclear new-build, decommissioning and waste management practice in the UK and Canada; comparable advisory and safety-case delivery for nuclear operators and regulators.
- Mott MacDonald: Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy with an established nuclear energy and decommissioning practice serving UK and international nuclear operators and regulators; overlaps with Quintessa on safety-case and environmental assessment engagements.
- Wood Group: Global engineering consultancy with a significant nuclear decommissioning and environmental safety practice; competes for and consortium-leads NDA RWMD frameworks alongside Quintessa and serves overlapping nuclear clients across UK and North America.
- Jacobs Solutions: Large global engineering and programme management firm with a major nuclear decommissioning, environmental remediation and safety-case practice serving US DOE, UK NDA and Sellafield; competes for the same enterprise-scale decommissioning programmes as Quintessa.
Direct peers
- Risktec Solutions: UK nuclear and high-hazard safety, risk and reliability consultancy working with EDF, Sellafield and regulators on probabilistic safety assessment and ALARP support; closely comparable niche and customer base to Quintessa.
- Frazer-Nash Consultancy: UK engineering consultancy with a strong nuclear safety, risk assessment and assurance practice serving defence, energy and civil nuclear clients; comparable mid-sized firm offering systems-level safety and modelling expertise.
- Galson Sciences: UK-based independent consultancy focused on radioactive waste management, decommissioning and disposal safety cases; partners with Quintessa in the NDA ASSIST consortium and competes for the same NDA/Sellafield/regulatory clients with similar small team and niche expertise.
- SLR Consulting: Independent environmental and safety consulting firm with a nuclear and radioactive waste practice; comparable mid-size consultancy serving energy and nuclear clients with similar advisory and modelling service offerings.
- Geofirma Engineering: Canadian geoscience engineering firm focused on deep geological repository safety assessment and coupled-process modelling; partners with Quintessa on the OPG Deep Geologic Repository and is a closely comparable niche player.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Quintessa social profiles
Digital presenceQuintessa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Quintessa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Quintessa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Quintessa 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 Quintessa
What does Quintessa do?
Quintessa provides scientific and mathematical consultancy, technical and strategic support, contract research, and proprietary software to public and private science-based organisations in the nuclear, energy, and environment sectors. Core service lines include risk and performance assessment, geosciences, materials modelling, decision support, mathematics, and training. The company also develops, licenses, and supports proprietary modelling software such as AMBER, QPAC, and TESLA, and builds custom software for clients including regulators, nuclear operators, and energy companies.
Is Quintessa a public or private company?
Quintessa is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Quintessa founded?
Quintessa was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Quintessa based?
Quintessa is headquartered in Henley On Thames, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Quintessa make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Scientific and Mathematical Consultancy is the primary driver. The others are scientific Software Products, custom Software Development and training Services.
Who are Quintessa's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AECOM, AtkinsRéalis, Mott MacDonald, Wood Group and Jacobs Solutions. Direct peers are Risktec Solutions, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Galson Sciences, SLR Consulting and Geofirma Engineering.
Does Quintessa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Quintessa.
What industry is Quintessa in?
Quintessa's product category is Scientific and Mathematical Consultancy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAKAAAI, Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) & Nuclear Codes Compliance (ASME, RCC-M, etc.), with a secondary code of BPAHAFAO, Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 8742.