The CEO of a fast-growing business says she “couldn’t be prouder” of her colleagues after landing significant investment from a private equity firm.
Anna Tsartsari and managing director Stephen Oakden founded BE Design in Newark 13 years ago, specialising in transforming landscapes at brownfield and former industrial sites.
The placemaking company has announced that YFM Equity Partners has injected an unspecified amount of cash to help it reach its ambitions.
“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,” said Ms Tsartsari, BE Design’s CEO.
“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.”
Her thoughts were echoed by Dan Freed, a partner at YFM, who co-led the deal’s negotiations.
He 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.”
Based at Fernwood Business Park, the firm works on regenerative placemaking projects across the UK and Europe.
A spokesperson for BE Design added: “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.”