Our history

In a short space of time Capita Symonds has become a leading force in the UK marketplace.

Formed in June 2004 following the merger of Capita Property Consultancy and Symonds Group we have since acquired architecture practices Percy Thomas Architects (June 2004), Norman + Dawbarn (Feb 2005), Church Lukas Birmingham (Feb 2006) and Ruddle Wilkinson (May 2006) and transport consultancy Buchanan Consulting Engineers (Jan 2005) bringing further skills and experience to our company.

Prior to June 2004 Capita Property Consultancy was a 1,800 strong multidisciplinary consultancy specialising in design, management and infrastructure. As a division of The Capita Group Plc it was formed (originally as Capita Property Services) in 1999 to bring together various companies acquired by the Group since the early '90s.

These included architects CNB Design (2001), project managers MPM Adams and civil / structural engineers Edward Roscoe Associates (1999), civil / structural engineers BWA and quantity surveyor Tozer Gallagher (1997), multidisciplinary Estatecare (1996) and Beard Dove (1994), architects Estate Design Management (1992) and M&E engineers JE Greatorex (1990).

Two strategic partnerships, with Cumbria County Council (£140m, 7-year) and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (£205m, 15-year) in 2001 and a ground-breaking civils / engineering joint venture in 2002 between Capita and four South Wales local authorities has seen over 700 staff transferred to Capita.

In January 2005 Urban Vision, an unique joint venture between Capita Symonds, Salford City Council and Morrison launched to regenerate and revitalise the City of Salford. Uniquely, 380 employees within the Council’s Development Services Directorate were seconded to Urban Vision and placed fully under Urban Vision’s management for the duration of the project, the first time such a business model has been used in a joint venture.

Symonds Group had an equally dynamic origin. Established as Symonds Ltd from a quantity surveying base in 1960 it enjoyed rapid growth in the UK, expanding its portfolio of services to encompass construction, cost, facilities and project management during the 70s and 80s until its acquisition by French firm Compagnie Générale des Eaux (later Vivendi) in 1993.

Symonds also strengthened its services through acquisition, acquiring transport, engineering and environmental consultancy Travers Morgan and Hendersons, Australasia's largest and most experienced firm of logistics consultants, in 1995.

Following restructuring in 1998, Symonds Travers Morgan, Symonds Facilities Management, Symonds Power & Energy, Symonds Projects all came under the trading name of Symonds Group Ltd. It was acquired by its management team in 1999.

In February 2004 Symonds Group was acquired by The Capita Group Plc and merged with Capita Property Consultancy, the new company officially launched on 1 June 2004.