Complex sites need joined-up thinking from the outset. Across logistics, industrial and data centre development, the pressure to deliver complex projects efficiently and sustainably keeps increasing — and it’s even greater on brownfield and former industrial land, where ground conditions, infrastructure, environmental requirements and long-term performance all have to be considered together.
That’s the complexity BE Design was built to address. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Newark, Nottinghamshire, we’ve brought together civil and structural engineering, geo-environmental, highways, architecture, health and safety, mechanical and electrical engineering, and ESG expertise under one multidisciplinary roof because we believe that’s the only way to properly solve problems.
Today, we’re announcing a new investment from YFM Equity Partners to support our next phase of growth. As part of the transaction, the original founders Anna Tsartsari CEO and Stephen Oakden Managing Director, together with Richard Sanders as Chairman and Duncan Hinks as CFO will be delivering our growth strategy. This is a partnership to accelerate the plan we’ve already set, not a change in who we are or how we work.
why now
The UK built environment consultancy market has stayed resilient, driven by continued demand for sustainable development and the regeneration of complex sites. At the same time, projects keep getting more technically demanding, and clients need advice that connects design, engineering, environmental performance and commercial reality from day one.
That’s exactly the space we’ve built our reputation in. Over more than a decade, we’ve developed a strong position across logistics, industrial, manufacturing and data centres, working with a long-standing client base across the UK and Europe. This investment gives us the fuel to go further and faster without losing what got us here.
our multidisciplinary model
What sets us apart is how our disciplines work together. Our civil and structural engineers collaborate directly with our geo-environmental, highways, architecture, M&E, health and safety, sustainability and ESG specialists helping clients spot constraints earlier and build coordinated solutions, rather than treating each part of a project in isolation.
That approach counts most on brownfield developments, where unlocking a site depends on understanding its history, ground conditions, infrastructure and environmental impact as one connected challenge.
It’s underpinned by how we work with clients day to day: staying engaging, curious and passionate, and hand-holding them through complexity while delivering technical excellence throughout.
Sustainability has never been a bolt-on for us. It’s built into our process from the outset, underpinned by our commitment to sustainable placemaking and to practical solutions that support our clients’ wider environmental and social goals.
built on our people and our culture
Everything we’ve grown has been built on long-standing client relationships and investment in specialist people. We’ve strengthened our senior multidisciplinary team across a number of disciplines over the past year, adding capacity and expertise ahead of this next phase.
Our Heads of Discipline sit at the centre of that growth. The leaders of our seven disciplines — ESG, mechanical and electrical engineering, geo-environmental, highways, architecture, health and safety, and civil and structural engineering — are what make our multidisciplinary model work in practice, and their continued growth is central to how we scale into new markets and more demanding sites.
That investment in capability only works alongside a strong culture, collaboration, innovation and technical excellence which have shaped this business from day one, and protecting those qualities as we grow is central to our plan.
turning our sustainability commitments into practical action
Innovation is a big part of what comes next. We’re continuing to develop our own ESG platform, adddZERO, building on four years of work and early use with selected global clients, designed to help turn ESG ambitions into something practical and measurable, alongside our engineering and sustainability expertise, not instead of it.
Combined with our technical delivery and multidisciplinary thinking, that gives us a strong base to broaden our services and deepen our client relationships.
What comes next
This investment will help us accelerate organic growth in our core markets, expand our services, and keep attracting the best talent in the industry while preserving the culture and client relationships that got us here.
We’re growing our new London office as the latest step in our geographic expansion, with a future physical office presence planned in Manchester and Germany. As the sector consolidates, we’ll also look at selective M&A opportunities to add further complementary capabilities.
Anna Tsartsari, CEO and co-founder of BE Design, said:
“We’ve spent over a decade building a business known for taking on the sites and challenges others shy away from, and we’ve done it by investing in exceptional people. YFM understood that from our first conversation, and that’s exactly why this partnership feels right.
“This investment gives us the backing to keep investing in our people, deepen our culture and push innovation further, while staying true to the way we’ve always worked. It’s a huge moment for BE Design, and I couldn’t be prouder of what this team has built and where we’re taking it next.”
Dan Freed, Partner at YFM, who led the deal alongside Oliver Wheatley, said:
“Anna and Stephen have built a consultancy with a genuine specialism – the technical capability to unlock complex sites that others can’t, in end markets with real momentum behind them. The quality of the team, the strength of their client relationships and the clear opportunity for organic growth, complemented by strong potential for M&A in a growing fragmented market, made this a compelling investment. We’re looking forward to working with the team on the next stage of the journey.”
We’re looking forward to working closely with the YFM team as we scale, invest further in our people and capabilities, and build on the organic momentum we’ve already created.
about be design
BE Design is a multidisciplinary design consultancy specialising in sustainable placemaking. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Newark, Nottinghamshire, the business provides civil and structural engineering, geo-environmental and highways, architecture, health and safety, M&E, and ESG and sustainability services to clients across the UK and Europe. BE Design works across sectors including industrial, logistics, retail, residential, manufacturing and data centres, with sustainability embedded in its approach from concept to completion.
