Bluesky Architects
Bluesky Architects is a UK-based RIBA Chartered practice delivering full architectural design (RIBA 0–7) across healthcare, education, blue light, residential, and commercial sectors for public sector clients via framework appointments, with specialist ballistic facility design through Capra Architects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersStockport, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bluesky Architects does
Bluesky Architects (legal entity Blue Sky Design Services Ltd) is a privately held, RIBA Chartered architectural practice headquartered in Stockport, UK. Founded in 1999, the firm delivers full architectural design services across RIBA stages 0–7 in five primary sectors: healthcare/NHS, education, blue light (emergency services), residential, and commercial, with a specialist ballistic and tactical facility design offering delivered through the Capra Architects trading name. Core technical capabilities span BIM Level 2 delivery, Modern Methods of Construction including modular/off-site building, Passivhaus standard design for schools, BREEAM-rated facilities, and a Net Zero Carbon by 2035 commitment. Capra Architects provides JSP403, Home Office, MoD, and College of Policing-compliant design for police and military training facilities.
The firm generates revenue through professional design fees paid by UK public sector clients, accessed via appointed-supplier status on NHS Shared Business Services HPCCAS Framework, Pagabo Professional Services Framework (£780m envelope, four-year duration), Crown Commercial Services DPS, and Bloom Framework. Distribution is framework-driven direct appointment supplemented by competitive tendering. Headcount is 11–50 with a woman-led leadership under Director Alison Quinn. Notable clients include Community 1st (15+ year NHS estate partner, 510,000+ sq ft delivered), Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, North West Ambulance Service, Department for Education, North West Fire and Rescue Authority, and Battersea Power Station developers. Certifications include ISO 9001 (zero non-conformities), Cyber Essentials, Green Mark Level 3 (three consecutive years), Investors in People Gold (25+ years continuous), and RIBA Chartered Practice status. Operational footprint spans most of England with selective activity in Ireland.
Bluesky Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bluesky Architects
- Legal name
- Blue Sky Design Services Ltd
- Website
- https://blueskyarchitects.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bluesky Architects is a UK-based RIBA Chartered practice delivering full architectural design (RIBA 0–7) across healthcare, education, blue light, residential, and commercial sectors for public sector clients via framework appointments, with specialist ballistic facility design through Capra Architects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bluesky Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where Bluesky Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockport
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bluesky Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Professional fees from providing full architectural design services across healthcare, education, blue light, residential, and commercial sectors. Services span RIBA stages 0-7 from initial feasibility through to construction completion and operational handover.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bluesky Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bluesky Architects is a UK-based architectural design practice delivering full architectural services across RIBA stages 0-7, including feasibility, healthcare planning, technical advisory, BIM Level 2 design, and on-site support. Core sectors served are healthcare (NHS), education, blue light/emergency services, residential, commercial and specialist police/military facilities (via the Capra Architects trading name), with services procured primarily through public sector frameworks.
Product overview
Bluesky Architects (Blue Sky Design Services Limited) is a creative design-led architectural practice operating as a single unified service offering across multiple sectors. The company's core architectural design services span healthcare, education, commercial, residential, and blue light (emergency services) sectors, with specialized expertise delivered through its trading name Capra Ballistics for specialist police and military tactical training facilities. Services are delivered through various procurement frameworks including NHS Business Services, Pagabo, and Crown Commercial Services, providing architectural design from RIBA stages 0-7, BIM Level 2 compliant delivery, and Design Technical Advisory services primarily to public sector clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Healthcare Design Services Architectural design services for NHS and public healthcare facilities spanning RIBA stages 0-7, including stakeholder engagement, feasibility studies, business case development, strategic site master planning, healthcare planning, and on-site support for primary care, acute hospital, mental health and community diagnostic buildings.
- Education Design Services Architectural design services for the education sector covering secondary and primary schools, SEND schools and University Technical Colleges, including modular/off-site construction schemes and refurbishments, plus Design Technical Advisory support on Department for Education frameworks.
- Blue Light (Emergency Services) Design Services Architectural design services for fire and rescue authorities, ambulance trusts and police forces, including modern fire stations, ambulance hubs, HART facilities, custody suites and other emergency service buildings designed for collaborative shared-working.
- Capra Ballistics Specialist Facility Design Design solutions and consultancy for police and Ministry of Defence clients covering indoor and external NDA ranges, live fire skills buildings, method of entry training facilities, public order arenas, forensic ballistics facilities and armoury design, delivered to JSP403, Home Office, MoD and College of Policing standards.
- Commercial Design Services Architectural design services for commercial offices, mixed-use developments, stadium facilities, airport terminals and retail spaces, typically delivered in collaboration with developers, investors and contractor partners on complex multi-phased projects.
- Residential Design Services Architectural design services for private developers, housing associations and local authorities covering master planning, social housing, student accommodation, conservation-area residential and bespoke private client developments.
- Design Technical Advisory Service Technical advisory service covering outline site appraisal, feasibility studies, architectural design and space planning, BIM design expertise and analysis of contractor proposals, currently delivered to the Department for Education for Primary, Secondary and SEND provision including a Passivhaus pilot scheme.
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered 40+ healthcare schemes ranging from acute health barn operating theatres to primary health care centres
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Bluesky Architects
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Bluesky Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Bluesky Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Premier ModularcoreAppointed modular construction partner for Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility. Successfully transported 29 Premier Modular units from Hull to the Isles of Scilly for the healthcare project.
- Wates GroupcoreConstruction partner on Merseyside HART Ambulance Station project working with North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Project shortlisted for Procure Partnerships Framework Awards.
- GleedsminorArchitectural Technical Advisors alongside Gleeds on the new Chorlton High School south project for BAM as principal contractor.
- Galliford TryminorConstruction partner appointed for NWAS Blackpool Ambulance Hub project. Bluesky provided architectural services while Galliford Try handled construction delivery.
- Community 1stcoreLong-term partnership (15+ years) as NHS estate services partner responsible for operation of primary care premises across Oldham, Sheffield, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. Bluesky has developed 510,000+ sq ft of health and wellbeing estate in partnership with them. Community 1st acts as asset owner and works with NHS trusts on healthcare facility development.
- VolkerLasercoreLong-term working relationship providing technical design details on major projects including Battersea Power Station (Prospect Place 1 & 2, Battersea Roof Gardens), Shard Place 26-storey residential development, and HS2 London Euston Traction Sub-Station.
- Department for EducationcoreAppointed by DfE to provide technical advice and design support for Primary, Secondary and SEND provision. Currently acting as Technical Design Advisors on nine SEND projects, including a Passivhaus standard pilot scheme in North Lincolnshire.
- PagabocoreAppointed to Pagabo Professional Services Framework for Architectural Design Services (LOT 10 - North region) and Pagabo Dynamic Purchasing System for UK-wide coverage. The £780m framework runs for four years.
- NHS Shared Business ServicescoreNamed as supplier on NHS SBS Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy and Ancillary Services (HPCCAS) Framework Agreement. Enables easy direct appointments for NHS and public sector healthcare clients, free to access and OJEU compliant.
- Crown Commercial Services (CCS)minorAppointed to Crown Commercial Services DPS for Architectural Design Services for Construction, enabling public sector procurement.
- Bloom FrameworkminorAppointed to Bloom Framework for Architectural Design Services providing public sector clients with procurement-compliant access to Bluesky services.
- Capra ArchitectscoreTrading name for Bluesky providing design solutions and consultancy services for specialist police and military facilities including specialist ballistics and firearm tactical training centres. Team has 20+ years experience with strong relationships with College of Policing and Ministry of Defence.
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation TrustcoreLead architectural and healthcare planning services for new Integrated Health and Social Care Facility at Isles of Scilly, working alongside Community 1st Cornwall as local estate partner. Also providing services for Bodmin Treatment Centre phases and other capital works.
- Castle GateminorWorking with Castle Gate and Salford Local Authority on the new Riverside Health Centre in Lower Broughton, Salford project.
- NHS EnglandcoreCollaborative partner on Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility representing significant NHS investment into health and social care facilities.
- The Duchy of CornwallminorCollaborative partner on Isles of Scilly project with the Duke of Cornwall breaking ground on the site. The Duchy of Cornwall is involved in the project delivery.
- SEAG8 LIMITEDminorPart of the project delivery team for Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility.
- METS LtdminorPart of the project delivery team for Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility including school visit to Five Islands Academy to discuss careers in design and construction.
- Hulley & Kirkwood LimitedminorPart of the project delivery team for Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility working on this logistically challenging project.
- tms (TMS Worldwide)minorPart of the project delivery team for Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility and involved in school career outreach at Five Islands Academy.
- Positive PlanetminorCollaboration partner for Carbon Reduction reporting and validation. Bluesky's Carbon Reduction reports are achieved through collaboration with Positive Planet.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bluesky Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bluesky Architects social profiles
Digital presenceBluesky Architects compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Bluesky Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bluesky Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Bluesky Architects subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Bluesky Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bluesky Architects 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 Bluesky Architects
What does Bluesky Architects do?
Bluesky Architects is a UK-based architectural design practice delivering full architectural services across RIBA stages 0-7, including feasibility, healthcare planning, technical advisory, BIM Level 2 design, and on-site support. Core sectors served are healthcare (NHS), education, blue light/emergency services, residential, commercial and specialist police/military facilities (via the Capra Architects trading name), with services procured primarily through public sector frameworks.
Is Bluesky Architects a public or private company?
Bluesky Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bluesky Architects founded?
Bluesky Architects was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bluesky Architects based?
Bluesky Architects is headquartered in Stockport, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bluesky Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Does Bluesky Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bluesky Architects.
What industry is Bluesky Architects in?
Bluesky Architects's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAK, Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 8711.