Wakefield-based Assent acquires Clarke Banks Group to boost its building control and fire services portfolio

Clarke Banks provides compliance solutions to the domestic and commercial construction markets, including building control approval and fire safety engineering.

The company operates from offices in London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Weybridge.

As the building control and fire safety industries continue to evolve with new legislation, Clarke Banks directors Adam Melrose and Sam Wright were keen to explore the mergers and acquisitions market and find the right buyer for the next phase of development.

George Barnes, KBS corporate associate director, who oversaw the sale, said: “The Building Safety Act 2022 will change operational strategies across the market and Clarke Banks has the services, clients and scope to satisfy new requirements, particularly for large-scale commercial developments.”

Iain Thomson, chief executive of Assent, added: “We have been actively looking to expand our suite of services, so it was important to us that the business we acquired would offer benefits to both parties, not simply grow the number of surveyors we could offer. Sam and Adam have built an incredibly successful business.”