Leading M&A Advisor and Business Broker in South East England

Highest

Density of Building Services SMEs Outside London

200+

Active Acquirers in South East

16%

Of UK Construction Projects in East of England

What We Are Watching

South East England remains the UK's second-largest construction market after London, driven by London spillover demand, major Gatwick corridor growth, and affluent residential property markets across Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, and Sussex. County council frameworks — including Surrey County Council's £600 million building maintenance programme and Kent's infrastructure investment plan — are creating reliable, multi-year contract pipelines for local building services firms. The government's net-zero retrofit agenda is particularly impactful in the South East, where a large stock of pre-1990 commercial and residential buildings requires energy efficiency upgrades. The region's proximity to London means South East contractors often serve both markets, making them attractive acquisition targets for London-based platforms seeking geographic expansion.

What South East Business Owners Are Going Through

South East building services owners operate in one of the UK's most expensive regions, with commercial rents, labour costs, and insurance premiums all elevated relative to the Midlands and North. The proximity to London creates constant wage pressure as skilled tradespeople can earn more in the capital, making retention a persistent challenge. Many South East contractors serve a mix of London and local clients, requiring dual-market operational capability that increases management complexity. The Building Safety Act's requirements are particularly relevant for South East firms working on London's expanding residential footprint. Owner-operators in the Home Counties frequently report that the business runs well but the personal burden of managing growth — recruitment, compliance, fleet, IT — has become unsustainable without institutional support.

PE and Acquirer Activity in South East

The South East has the second-highest concentration of active acquirers after London. Marlowe plc and Sureserve Group both maintain active mandates across the region. IVC Evidensia has been aggressively consolidating veterinary practices across Surrey, Kent, and Hampshire. Portman Dental Care has expanded its South East presence significantly. For South East business owners, the depth of buyer interest — driven by the region's strong fundamentals and London proximity — typically results in competitive processes that drive premium outcomes for well-prepared sellers.

Marlowe plc

AIM-listed compliance group with active Home Counties mandate

Sureserve Group

PE-backed compliance platform expanding across South East

Portman Dental Care

PE-backed dental consolidator with strong Home Counties presence

IVC Evidensia

PE-backed veterinary group aggressively acquiring in South East

HC-One

UK care home operator seeking South East care operations