Woodley Coles LLP

What Woodley Coles LLP does

Woodley Coles LLP is an independent UK construction consultancy founded in 2001, delivering quantity surveying, cost management, project management, contract administration (Employer's Agent), CDM Principal Designer, and monitoring surveyor services. The firm operates from offices in Sandwich, Kent (Innovation House, Discovery Park) and London (Shoreditch), with delivery experience across the UK and global engagements spanning EMEA, APAC, and LATAM for blue-chip organisations. Its service portfolio is built around standard construction industry contracts (JCT Design and Build 2016, NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, NEC4 ECC Option A) rather than proprietary technology.

The business serves public and private sector clients across six sectors: infrastructure/highways/civils, education, life sciences, commercial, leisure/community/heritage, and residential. Named engagements include the £250M Dover Western Docks Revival (Dover Harbour Board, ongoing since 2014), heritage visitor infrastructure for the National Trust (Ightham Mote, Winkworth Arboretum, Scotney Castle), education projects for Kent County Council and Medway Council under the Construction Consultancy Framework 2023-2027, and life sciences clinical manufacturing fit-outs. Over 90% of current workload derives from repeat business, reflecting long-tenure client relationships.

Woodley Coles is a private Limited Liability Partnership co-led by Partners Steve Coles and Chris Norris MRICS, with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company. The firm is RICS-regulated and holds ISO 9001 (since 2007), ISO 14001 (since 2023), ISO 27001 (since 2023), Investor in People (since 2004), CHAS Elite, Constructionline Gold, and Cyber Essentials. Revenue is generated through professional services fees negotiated project-by-project or via framework agreements; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Woodley Coles LLP

Legal name

The Woodley Coles LLP

Website

https://woodleycoles.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Woodley Coles LLP is an independent UK construction consultancy founded in 2001, providing quantity surveying, cost management, project management, and contract administration services to public sector and blue-chip clients across education, infrastructure, heritage, and life sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Consultancy Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

Keywords

• Quantity surveying services
• Construction cost management
• Project management consultancy
• Contract administration services
• Construction consultancy UK

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Quantity Surveying: The company provides quantity surveying and cost management services for construction projects, likely on a project fee basis. Services include pre-contract cost planning, procurement support, valuations, cost reporting, commercial advice, contract administration, and final account settlement.
2. Project Management Services: Project planning, programme management, and project execution planning services for construction projects.
3. Monitoring Surveyor Services: Monitoring surveying services overseeing drawdown of agreed loan facilities for development projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Woodley Coles LLP is an independent construction consultancy delivering Quantity Surveying & Cost Management, Project Management, Contract Administration/Employer's Agent, CDM Principal Designer, and Monitoring Surveyor services to public sector bodies, heritage organisations, educational institutions, life sciences clients, and commercial/residential developers. The firm provides end-to-end commercial and project oversight across the construction lifecycle, from feasibility and cost planning through procurement, contract administration, and final account settlement, using standard JCT and NEC contract forms.

Product overview

Woodley Coles LLP is an independent award-winning Cost and Project Management Consultancy founded in 2001, offering a unified suite of professional construction consultancy services. Their core portfolio comprises five integrated service lines: Quantity Surveying & Cost Management, Project Management, Contract Administration/Employer's Agent services, Principal Designer (CDM) role, and Monitoring Surveyor services. These services are delivered across six key sectors: Infrastructure/Highways/Civils, Education, Life Sciences, Commercial, Leisure/Community/Heritage, and Residential. The integrated service offering enables the firm to provide holistic project support from initial feasibility through to completion and final account settlement, with particular expertise in education and heritage sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quantity Surveying & Cost Management Comprehensive quantity surveying and cost management services for construction projects, covering pre-contract cost planning through to post-contract commercial management, valuations, cost reporting, and final account agreement. Delivered to public sector bodies, heritage organisations, educational institutions, and private developers.
• Project Management End-to-end project management services overseeing construction project delivery from inception through to completion, including programme management, stakeholder coordination, and project execution planning.
• Contract Administration / Employer's Agent Contract administration services acting as the Employer's Agent, managing contractual obligations, valuations, instructions, and commercial control under JCT Design and Build Contract 2016, NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, and NEC4 ECC Option A contract forms.
• Principal Designer CDM Principal Designer services ensuring compliance with Construction Design and Management regulations, coordinating health and safety considerations throughout the design and construction phases of construction projects.
• Monitoring Surveyor Monitoring surveyor services overseeing drawdown of agreed loan facilities, typically in residential development contexts, ensuring works progress in accordance with approved specifications, budgets, and lender requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% repeat business from existing client base
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and key.

• RICS Matrics KentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Woodley Coles actively sponsors and participates in RICS Matrics Kent events and initiatives. Emily Robertson served as Chair of RICS Matrics Kent for 2 years and 3 months before moving to a Regional role. George Malone now serves as Chair with Sienna Roger as Vice Chair.
• Medway CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Woodley Coles LLP were successfully appointed on the Medway Council Construction Consultancy Framework 2023-2027 to deliver Quantity Surveying Services. This framework appointment enables continued working with Medway Council on public sector construction projects.
• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodley Coles has developed an ongoing working relationship with National Trust, providing QS and Employer Agent services for multiple visitor infrastructure projects including Ightham Mote (£3.81M), Winkworth Arboretum, and Scotney Castle Visitor Infrastructure Project.
• Kent County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding relationship with Kent County Council providing quantity surveying services for education projects including schools, academies, and colleges across Kent on multiple framework and direct appointments.
• Dover Harbour BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince November 2014, Woodley Coles has been assisting Dover Harbour Board with the £250M Dover Western Docks Revival project, providing cost planning, risk management, and construction cost audit services.
• Constructing Excellence KentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWoodley Coles is actively involved in Constructing Excellence Kent Group, with Project Management Lead Ellie Farlow serving as Chair, championing collaborative working across the construction industry whilst upholding best practice.
• WW Martin LtdkeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrequent contractor partner on education projects including Net Zero Teynham Parochial C of E Primary School (£10.5M), Lydden Primary School New Hall (£1.4M), Ursuline College Phase 2b (£2M), and Folkestone College. Regular project delivery partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with a major cost management practice serving public sector, education and infrastructure clients. Overlaps with Woodley Coles' service portfolio but operates at vastly larger scale.
• Turner & Townsend: Global cost management and QS consultancy operating across all major sectors. Highly comparable to Woodley Coles on core service line (quantity surveying/cost management) but far larger and offering broader programme advisory.
• Arcadis: Global design, engineering and consultancy firm with cost management capability across public sector and infrastructure. Comparable service mix but with broader portfolio and international footprint.
• Mace Group: International consultancy and construction group with a cost management / project management consultancy arm. Comparable in QS and PM service delivery but operates much broader construction services.

Regional players

• Pick Everard: UK mid-sized consultancy with strong cost management and QS offering concentrated in the Midlands and East of England. Comparable in service scope and client type but largely non-overlapping geographically with Woodley Coles' Southeast focus.

Direct peers

• Gleeds: UK-headquartered independent cost consultancy and project management firm with very similar service offering (QS, PM, employer's agent) across property, infrastructure, and education. Closest mid-sized peer in terms of business model.
• Currie & Brown: International cost management and project management consultancy with strong heritage and education sector exposure. Directly comparable to Woodley Coles across QS, PM, and monitoring surveyor services.
• Ridge and Partners LLP: UK multi-disciplinary consultancy offering cost management, project management and building consultancy across education, heritage, life sciences and residential - a near-identical sector footprint to Woodley Coles.
• Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB): Global independent construction cost consultancy providing quantity surveying, cost management and project management across commercial, education and infrastructure sectors - the same verticals Woodley Coles targets.
• Baily Garner LLP: Independent UK construction consultancy providing quantity surveying, employer's agent and project management services to public sector, education and housing clients. Closely comparable in size, service offering and client mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodley-coles-llp

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Woodley Coles LLP