Thu, 13 Mar 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
Glasgow-headquartered construction consultancy services provider Soben is to be bought by US-listed professional services firm Accenture.
Soben was founded in 2011 by current CEO, Scott Smyth, when he noticed a gap in the market while working as a Quantity Surveyor for major contractors. He recognised the need for a consultancy firm combining practical project management expertise with experienced cost consultancy.
Soben will become an integral part of the Infrastructure and Capital Projects practice within Accenture’s Industry X team.
Accenture said Soben’s expertise in data centre development and the pharmaceutical and energy industries will boost its capital projects capabilities in advisory as well as project, cost and commercial management for clients.
Soben works for leading global hyperscalers and co-location providers on major data centre construction. Its services include project management consultancy, scheduling, project controls, cost and commercial management, consultancy and advisory, and carbon cost management. With a team of 250, the company serves clients in Western Europe, the US, Mexico, Brazil, India and Australia.
“The market for capital projects and especially data centres is growing rapidly, driven by ever-higher demand for cloud computing and AI and exponential data growth,” said Steve Roberts, senior managing director, Accenture Industry X. “Hyperscalers and co-location companies are under tremendous pressure to deliver on this demand. They need a provider that brings data centre expertise plus proven capital projects experience, which is what the combination of Soben and Accenture will stand for.”
Maddie Walker, Accenture’s Industry X lead in the UK, Ireland & Africa, added: “With complex capital projects on the horizon, and increasing adoption of AI, the UK is positioning itself for growth – and the construction sector must ensure it has the innovative thinking, technology, and skills to lead the way.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
Find out more about M&A in the construction sector
The company is a highly regarded, independent provider of accounts payable (AP) and VAT recovery audit services for public- and private-sector clients based across the UK.
This well-established East Anglia-based practice offers a solid foundation with a high proportion of limited company clients and significant potential for growth through the introduction of additional services.
Well established for over 35 years, this Scottish-based practice offers a solid client base with a high proportion of limited company clients, providing a strong foundation for future growth.
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