Simple Works
Simple Works is a B Corporation-certified London structural engineering practice delivering low-carbon, timber-focused design for UK local authorities, housing associations, and community organizations. Founded 2015, it pairs chartered engineering with parametric design and reclaimed-timber research across 40+ projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Simple Works does
Simple Works Ltd is a privately held, B Corporation-certified structural engineering practice headquartered in East London, founded in 2015 by Phil Isaac and Sinéad Conneely. The firm delivers low-carbon, timber-focused structural engineering design across new-build housing, adaptive reuse, civic and community buildings, educational facilities, pavilions, and research projects, serving primarily UK local authorities, housing associations, and community-interest organizations alongside a smaller share of private residential and cultural clients. Its technical offering combines chartered structural and civil engineering expertise with parametric design capabilities using Rhino, Grasshopper, and Karamba, Passivhaus-standard construction support, and proprietary methodology for assessing reclaimed timber for structural reuse via longitudinal acoustic resonance testing — developed through research partnerships including the ReLondon-led CIRCuIT project.
The business operates as a project-based professional services firm with individually bid and quoted engagements won through competitive tendering, direct client relationships, and architect referrals from a recurring network of mission-aligned practices (Archio, IF_DO, Assemble, Studio Egret West, Begent Architecture, TOWN). Revenue mechanics are conventional fee-for-service with publicly undisclosed rates and no standard pricing model. The practice operates as part of a collective with sister entities Regenerative Works (circular-economy strategy) and Scale Rule (a co-founded CIC running youth built-environment engagement), and in 2026 launched Design For All, a pro bono engineering service for small charities.
Growth has been organic and reputation-driven: the team has scaled to roughly 11 engineers and researchers, the portfolio has grown to 40+ projects spanning London boroughs and regions including Devon, Dorset, Lincolnshire, and Ireland, and 2025-2026 delivered a notable cluster of industry recognition including a RIBA National Award for Triangle House, multiple regional RIBA wins, and Housing Design Awards and Pineapple Awards shortlists. No external investment, M&A, or leadership transitions have been disclosed; the firm remains founder-led and privately capitalized.
Simple Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simple Works
- Legal name
- Simple Works Ltd
- Website
- https://simple-works.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Simple Works is a B Corporation-certified London structural engineering practice delivering low-carbon, timber-focused design for UK local authorities, housing associations, and community organizations. Founded 2015, it pairs chartered engineering with parametric design and reclaimed-timber research across 40+ projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simple Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Structural Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Residential Building Construction (23611), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Structural Wood Repair & Framing (Studs, Joists, Subfloor Patching) (HSAGABAF)
Keywords
Where Simple Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Simple Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Structural Engineering Consulting: Professional services revenue generated through providing structural engineering services for construction projects including new builds, renovations, adaptive reuse, and research projects. Projects range from small pavilions to large housing developments.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Simple Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simple Works is a structural engineering practice that designs low-carbon, timber-focused structural solutions for housing, community buildings, cultural venues, educational facilities, pavilions, and adaptive reuse projects across the UK. The practice also runs a dedicated research programme on reclaimed and low-carbon materials and offers parametric structural design using tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Karamba.
Product overview
Simple Works is a purpose-driven structural engineering practice offering a unified portfolio of services centered on sustainable, low-carbon construction. Their core offerings include structural engineering design for various project types (residential, commercial, community spaces, pavilions), research collaboration with universities on sustainable materials and methodologies, community engagement workshops, and parametric design services using advanced software tools. The practice also operates Design For All, a pro bono initiative supporting small charities with design expertise. The company specializes in timber construction, adaptive reuse, and community-focused projects, delivering projects across categories including Live (housing), Work (commercial/workspace), Play (pavilions/public spaces), and Research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Structural Engineering Services Structural engineering design for new builds, renovations, adaptive reuse, community buildings, cultural venues, educational facilities, and pavilions, delivered as bespoke projects for local authorities, housing associations, community organisations, and private clients.
- Research Services Research collaboration with universities and industry partners (e.g., ReLondon, Grimshaw, Keltbray, Buckland Timber, Napier University) exploring new methodologies, low-carbon materials, design optimisation, and sustainable engineering practices.
- Parametric Design Services Advanced parametric structural design using Rhino, Grasshopper, and Karamba for structural form-finding, geometry optimisation, and efficiency analysis, particularly on complex timber and diagrid structures.
Quantifiable outcome
- BREW HOUSE diverted 300kg of coffee grounds from waste stream and reduced clay consumption by 10%
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Simple Works
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Simple Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Simple Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.
- ReLondoncoreResearch partnership on the CIRCuIT project exploring how timber reclaimed from demolition sites can be reused structurally in glue-laminated elements. Project involved collaboration with Grimshaw Architects, Keltbray (timber supplier), Buckland Timber (glulam manufacturer), and Napier University (mechanical testing).
- Regenerative WorkscoreSister practice within the collective that designs and delivers regenerative strategies including zero waste and circular principles. Part of a tight-knit collective including Simple Works and Scale Rule.
- Scale RulecoreVolunteer-led CIC that works with young people through workshops and pop-up builds to spark curiosity and engagement in the built environment. Co-founded by Simple Works directors. People Pavilion 2023 project delivered together.
- Studio Egret WestnotableArchitectural practice for the BREW HOUSE pavilion at Clerkenwell Design Week, exploring circular construction through material innovation using coffee-waste bricks.
- York Handmade Brick CompanynotableManufacturing partner for Brew Bricks - experimental brick incorporating waste coffee grounds. Collaborated on BREW HOUSE pavilion project.
- ArchiocoreArchitectural practice for multiple projects including Angel Yard (intergenerational cohousing) and Morris Blitz Court. Regular collaborative partner.
- TOWNnotableArchitecture and planning practice collaborating on Angel Yard cohousing community development.
- Begent ArchitecturenotableArchitect for The Acorn timber diagrid structure project in Devon.
- IF_DOcoreArchitectural practice for multiple projects including The Yard (Tottenham community hub), Eagle House (Hastings), and other community-focused developments.
- AssemblecoreCommunity-focused architecture practice for Lifeline Community Centre project in Dagenham.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Simple Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Expedition Engineering: Expedition Engineering is a London structural engineering consultancy known for award-winning, design-led, and technically innovative projects including timber and long-span structures. Comparable in its creative-collaborative ethos and push for engineering excellence in residential and cultural projects.
- Format Engineers: Format Engineers is a London-based structural engineering consultancy with a strong focus on sustainable and low-carbon building design, including timber and Passivhaus projects. Closely comparable to Simple Works in size, mission-driven positioning, and client mix across housing and community sectors.
- AKT II: AKT II is a London-based structural and civil engineering practice known for innovative, sustainability-focused design across residential, cultural, and commercial projects. Comparable to Simple Works in its technical creativity, BREEAM/Passivhaus engagement, and architect-collaborative approach, though significantly larger.
- Webb Yates Engineers: Webb Yates Engineers is a London-based structural and civil engineering practice with a focus on sustainable, low-carbon, and timber-based design across residential and community projects. Comparable in size, design-led approach, and emphasis on Passivhaus and embodied carbon reduction.
- Civic Engineers: Civic Engineers is a UK structural and civil engineering practice explicitly focused on creating positive social and environmental impact through infrastructure and building projects. Directly comparable to Simple Works' purpose-driven model, sustainability ethos, and community-focused project portfolio.
- Heyne Tillett Steel: Heyne Tillett Steel is a London-based structural and civil engineering practice working across residential, commercial, and heritage sectors with an emphasis on retrofit and low-carbon design. Comparable in focus on adaptive reuse and collaboration with progressive architecture practices.
- Whitby Wood: Whitby Wood is a UK structural engineering consultancy specializing in sustainable building design, timber engineering, and adaptive reuse. Directly comparable to Simple Works in its timber expertise, low-carbon mission, and project mix spanning housing and public realm.
- Price & Myers: Price & Myers is a long-established London structural and civil engineering consultancy with a strong reputation for sustainable design, conservation, and complex new-build projects. Comparable in serving housing associations, cultural institutions, and developers, though larger and longer-tenured than Simple Works.
Broad incumbents
- Buro Happold: Buro Happold is a global engineering consultancy with a strong sustainability and structural engineering practice, including timber expertise and embodied carbon advisory work. Competes with Simple Works in the UK sustainable buildings market but with broader portfolio and deeper R&D resources.
- Arup: Arup is a global engineering consultancy with a substantial structural and sustainable buildings practice working across housing, infrastructure, and cultural projects worldwide. Operates in the same low-carbon, timber, and Passivhaus space as Simple Works but with vastly larger scale and global reach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Simple Works social profiles
Digital presenceSimple Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Simple Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simple Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Simple Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simple Works 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 Simple Works
What does Simple Works do?
Simple Works is a structural engineering practice that designs low-carbon, timber-focused structural solutions for housing, community buildings, cultural venues, educational facilities, pavilions, and adaptive reuse projects across the UK. The practice also runs a dedicated research programme on reclaimed and low-carbon materials and offers parametric structural design using tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Karamba.
Is Simple Works a public or private company?
Simple Works is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Simple Works founded?
Simple Works was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Simple Works based?
Simple Works is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Simple Works make money?
One revenue line is on record: structural Engineering Consulting.
Who are Simple Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Expedition Engineering, Format Engineers, AKT II, Webb Yates Engineers, Civic Engineers, Heyne Tillett Steel, Whitby Wood and Price & Myers. Broad incumbents are Buro Happold and Arup.
Does Simple Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simple Works.
What industry is Simple Works in?
Simple Works's product category is Sustainable Structural Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAH, Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House), with a secondary code of HSAGABAF, Structural Wood Repair & Framing (Studs, Joists, Subfloor Patching). Its NAICS code is 23611 and its SIC code is 8711.