Boyes Turner advises Origin on double acquisition expanding its environmental solutions

Boyes Turner has advised Origin Enterprises plc, the international group championing sustainable land use solutions, on the acquisition of two specialist ecology businesses in the UK, Brooks Ecological Ltd and GE Consulting Services (UK) Limited. The two acquisitions see Origin enhance its existing environmental solutions' portfolio, as the Dublin headquartered company continues to strengthen its presence in this sector, as part of its living landscapes division.

Leeds-based Brooks provides environmental consultancy services across the UK, bringing expertise in ecology and biodiversity alongside additional specialisms in arboriculture and landscape architecture to support clients on planning, development, and conservation projects. Operating across the South of England and South Wales, GE Consulting provides ecological and arboricultural consulting services and practical land management solutions.

The move further complements Origin’s environmental portfolio and is aligned with the Group’s strategy to build out its presence in this sector. In recent years, Origin has broadened its services catering to the growing demand for ecologically and environmentally sustainable inputs and practices from organisations operating in the amenity, urban and infrastructure development, and environmental markets, including through a series of acquisitions which included British Hardwood Tree Nurseries, Suregreen, Agrigem and Groundtrax. It also enhanced the consultancy and advisory services offered across the environmental and ecology sector with the acquisition of Keystone Environmental in October 2022, Neo Environmental in March 2023 and the recent additions of Avian Ecology Limited and Bowland Ecology Limited. Boyes Turner advised on all these acquisitions.

Both the latest deals were led by corporate Senior Associate, Sophie Payne, with support from Joe Rogers and Aimee Gaston in Boyes Turner’s Corporate team, Nick Carter, Gemma Nelis and Sarah Gibson in Property, Katie Harris, Natalie Wood and Janey Rankin in Employment, and Andrea Date and Chloe Fernandez in the Reading firm’s Commercial team.

Sophie comments, “These latest two acquisitions demonstrate Origin’s ambitions and leadership in sustainable land use. We look forward to seeing how this strengthens the group’s ecology, arboriculture, landscape and environmental contracting services and expertise for their customers – both now and in the future. As ever, it was fantastic working with the team at Origin and getting another two acquisitions over the line for them this year.”