First Q Network
First Q Network is a pan-European network of 15 independent mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy firms across 15 countries, providing MEP design, smart buildings, sustainability, and digital consultancy services to enterprise and government clients via 4,400+ engineers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What First Q Network does
First Q Network is a pan-European collaborative network of 15 independent mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering consultancy firms operating across 15 European countries, with a combined workforce of more than 4,400 professionals and combined turnover exceeding €540 million. The network is not a separately incorporated entity; its website is operated by Ethos Engineering in Ireland, and member firms include Ethos Engineering (Ireland), JG Ingenieros (Spain), Chapmanbdsp (UK), Granlund (Finland), and others across Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Romania. The network provides a complete suite of MEP design, commissioning, smart buildings, sustainability, and digital consultancy services to enterprise and government clients across verticals including offices, healthcare, data centres, industrial/logistics, retail, and public buildings.
The network's core technology stack is anchored in Building Information Modelling (BIM), adopted as a standard across all member firms, supplemented by building performance simulations (energy modelling, daylight analysis, comfort assessment) and an emerging AI-enabled design process capability developed through a dedicated AI Working Group. Member firms share knowledge through eight working groups covering AI, BIM, Smart Buildings, ESG, HR, IT, Marketing, and Building Physics, and collaborate via a Microsoft SharePoint-based intranet. The network has published multiple whitepapers on BIM, AI in MEP engineering, and digital-first net-zero strategies, and participates at industry events including MIPIM and Smart City Expo.
First Q Network operates a professional services revenue model, with member firms delivering project-based consultancy on multi-year contracts billed by scope. The network's combined revenue derives from MEP design fees, specialist services (lighting design, fire engineering, vertical transport, commissioning), sustainability certification (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, DGNB, HQE), and digital/smart building consultancy. Marquee clients include LinkedIn (4 Wilton Park, Dublin), Capital Group (London HQ), RELEX Solutions, Lidl, Cluj Regional Emergency Hospital, Laakso Hospital (City of Helsinki/HUS), GoCo Health Innovation City, Merlin Properties (Edged Data Centre), and the European Broadcasting Union (St. Jakobshalle, Eurovision 2025). Distribution is direct through member firms to enterprise clients, with the network enabling cross-border project pre-qualification.
First Q Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Q Network
- Legal name
- First Q Network
- Website
- https://firstqnet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- First Q Network is a pan-European network of 15 independent mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy firms across 15 countries, providing MEP design, smart buildings, sustainability, and digital consultancy services to enterprise and government clients via 4,400+ engineers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where First Q Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices14 records
Markets served
First Q Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- MEP Design Consultancy: Traditional mechanical and electrical design services for buildings including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire safety systems.
- Specialist Consultancy Services: Specialist services including lighting design, fire engineering, vertical transport, commissioning, and maintenance engineering.
- Smart Buildings Consultancy: Design of intelligent buildings with digital innovation and future-focused solutions for evolved ways of working.
- Sustainability Consultancy: Net zero carbon design, environmental/bioclimatic design, and sustainability certification services (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, DGNB, HQE).
- Digital Consultancy Services: Digital transformation and technology integration services for building design and operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based consultancy services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
First Q Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Q Network is a pan-European network of 15 independent mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering consultancy firms offering a complete suite of building services design, commissioning, smart buildings, sustainability, and digital consultancy services. Services span MEP design (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire safety), specialist consulting (lighting, fire engineering, vertical transport, commissioning, maintenance), building performance simulations, net zero carbon design, bioclimatic design, and sustainability certification (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, DGNB, HQE) across offices, healthcare, industrial, data centres, retail, hospitality, public buildings, and cultural venues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MEP Design and Building Services Design Traditional mechanical and electrical design services for buildings including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire safety systems, delivered by member firms across 15 European countries for enterprise and public-sector clients.
- Commissioning and Specialist Consultancy Services Specialist consultancy services including lighting design, fire engineering, vertical transport, commissioning, and maintenance engineering delivered by network member firms.
- Smart Buildings Consultancy Design of intelligent buildings with digital innovation and future-focused solutions for evolved ways of working, integrating IoT sensors and data-driven decision-making for building performance optimization.
- Net Zero Carbon and Sustainability Consultancy Net zero carbon design, environmental and bioclimatic design, and sustainability certification services (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, DGNB, HQE) delivered by member firms.
- Building Performance Simulations Energy modelling, daylight and overshadowing analysis, comfort assessment, and efficiency analysis within engineering systems distribution to optimize building performance and lifecycle costs.
- Digital Consultancy Services Digital transformation and technology integration services for building design and operations, including BIM and AI-enabled design process advisory delivered by member firms.
Quantifiable outcome
- Combined turnover exceeding €540 million across network
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Q Network
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments8 records
First Q Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability8 records
Feature3 records
First Q Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MC General Construct EngineeringcoreMember firm based in Romania providing MEP design services. One of 15 member firms across Europe comprising the First Q Network.
- Søren Jensen A/ScoreMember firm based in Denmark providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Europaplads Aarhus, Vejle Culture House, and Frederiksberggade transformation.
- Smits van BurgstcoreMember firm based in the Netherlands providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including MICS Omega and MICS Atlas campus buildings.
- IngeniumcoreMember firm based in Belgium providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including 2XL High-Rise Warehouse, Nobel 1 UZ Ghent, and Nieuwe Dokken Gent.
- ChapmanbdspcoreMember firm based in the UK providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Capital Group London HQ.
- Granlund GroupcoreMember firm based in Finland providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including RELEX Solutions headquarters, Katajanokan Laituri, and Laakso Hospital.
- Goblet Lavandier & Associés Ingénieurs-Conseils S.A.coreMember firm based in Luxembourg providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Helix Building and SEA Bei der Gemeng.
- ZWP Ingenieur-AGcoreMember firm based in Germany providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including NDR House 24 Hamburg.
- LMSIcoreMember firm based in Portugal providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Hospital Lisboa Oriente.
- Waldhauser+HermanncoreMember firm based in Switzerland providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including St. Jakobshalle and Zwhatt-Areal.
- Bengt Dahlgren ABcoreMember firm based in Sweden providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Kaj 16 and GoCo Health Innovation City.
- MepcocoreMember firm based in Lithuania providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Gårda Vesta (S7 office complex).
- BarbanelcoreMember firm based in France providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Morland Mixité Capitale and T1 Tower.
- JG IngenieroscoreMember firm based in Spain providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including Merlin-Edged Data Centre in Getafe and Hospital Quirón Madrid.
- Ethos EngineeringcoreMember firm based in Ireland providing MEP design services. Has delivered projects including LinkedIn 4 Wilton Park (largest LinkedIn office outside US) and GreenScale EMEA Reference Design.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
First Q Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with full MEP/building services design practice. Directly comparable to First Q in serving large healthcare, commercial, and public sector projects across Europe, but with much broader services (civil, transportation, environment) beyond MEP.
- Arcadis: Global design and engineering consultancy with strong European presence offering MEP, sustainability, and digital design services. Comparable to First Q in serving offices, healthcare, data centers, and public buildings with sustainability-led design, though structured as a publicly traded single firm.
- Ramboll: European engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm with strong building services and sustainability practice. Comparable to First Q in MEP design for healthcare, offices, and cultural buildings across Northern and Western Europe, with deeper structural and environmental engineering breadth.
- Arup: Global engineering consultancy with extensive MEP/building services design and net-zero advisory. Comparable to First Q in delivering award-winning sustainable buildings (LEED, BREEAM) and complex healthcare/data center MEP, but as a single employee-owned firm with broader structural engineering scope.
- WSP Global: Global engineering professional services firm with extensive MEP, building services, and sustainability consulting capabilities. Comparable to First Q in offering multi-disciplinary MEP design across sectors and geographies, but operates as a single integrated corporate entity rather than a member-firm network.
- Sweco: Europe-headquartered engineering, design, and consultancy firm with deep Nordic and continental European footprint. Comparable to First Q in MEP and building services design across offices, healthcare, and infrastructure, with similar European sustainability focus.
- HDR Inc. Global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with significant MEP and healthcare-focused design practice. Comparable to First Q in delivering large-scale hospital MEP (e.g., Cluj Regional Emergency Hospital, Laakso Hospital) and sustainability-led building design.
Direct peers
- Cundall: Independent multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy with strong MEP/building services practice across the UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Comparable to First Q in MEP design, sustainability certifications, and BIM-led delivery, particularly for offices, data centers, and healthcare.
- Hoare Lea: UK-headquartered independent MEP building services consultancy. Closely comparable to First Q's Chapmanbdsp member in offering MEP design, sustainability, smart buildings, and BIM-led delivery for commercial, healthcare, and cultural projects across the UK and internationally.
- Buro Happold: Independent international engineering consultancy specializing in MEP/building services and sustainability design. Highly comparable to First Q in targeting offices, healthcare, cultural buildings, and data centers with net-zero and BIM-led workflows, though without First Q's distributed member-firm model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Q Network social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Q Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Q Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
First Q Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Q Network 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 First Q Network
What does First Q Network do?
First Q Network is a pan-European network of 15 independent mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering consultancy firms offering a complete suite of building services design, commissioning, smart buildings, sustainability, and digital consultancy services. Services span MEP design (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire safety), specialist consulting (lighting, fire engineering, vertical transport, commissioning, maintenance), building performance simulations, net zero carbon design, bioclimatic design, and sustainability certification (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, DGNB, HQE) across offices, healthcare, industrial, data centres, retail, hospitality, public buildings, and cultural venues.
Is First Q Network a public or private company?
First Q Network is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was First Q Network founded?
First Q Network was founded in -1. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is First Q Network based?
First Q Network is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does First Q Network make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. MEP Design Consultancy is the primary driver. The others are specialist Consultancy Services, smart Buildings Consultancy, sustainability Consultancy and digital Consultancy Services.
Who are First Q Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AECOM, Arcadis, Ramboll, Arup, WSP Global, Sweco and HDR Inc.. Direct peers are Cundall, Hoare Lea and Buro Happold.
Does First Q Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Q Network.