Surveying practices to acquire in the UK

Name: Surveying practices to acquire in the UK
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a surveying practice in the UK? Firmbase ranks 593 surveying practices using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 9 staff and has been in business for 13 years.

Property condition reports, valuations and construction cost advice involve different instructions, so buying a surveying practice starts with understanding its specialisms. This list includes property surveyors, valuers and quantity surveyors, and may also include general consultancies because its industry codes are broad. Distinguish building inspections from cost planning and contract administration when reviewing the work behind a practice's fees.

Broaden surveying expertise with qualified practitioners

A surveying acquisition should add expertise that can be supervised and insured within the combined practice. Firmbase covers 593 UK limited-company and LLP surveying businesses with five or more staff. Firmbase narrows the search, while professional credentials and the firm's actual work need a separate review. The firm's website can help you decide which practices deserve a closer look at their people and credentials.

Public ownership gives you a starting map of independent practices. For these surveying businesses, the median time since formation is 13 years. Of these surveying practices, 24% are controlled by one person with 75% or more. Nothing in a practice's filings says whether its owner would talk about a deal. Use them only to choose where a respectful conversation may be worth exploring.

Think about the disciplines your group could cover locally and where a new practice would fill a gap. Identify the practitioners whose signatures or specialist knowledge the work depends on. Read insurance and appointment limits against the reports the practice has already issued. The Approach Score is an ordering aid; it does not assess technical quality or the chance that clients will keep commissioning work.

This surveying page is a sourcing tool for initial research, not a list of businesses for sale. Check any claim that a practice is regulated by RICS in the Find a Surveyor directory, which distinguishes regulated firms from other listings. No single statutory body regulates all surveying, and RICS regulates only the firms registered with it. Review qualifications, professional indemnity cover and the precise services delivered under each instruction.

593

Firms

19%

Every director 55+

24%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£500k to £1m

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

Key facts

RICS says not every firm in its Find a Surveyor directory is regulated by RICS. RICS

A RICS regulated firm must meet the body's rules of conduct and complaints requirements. RICS

RICS regulated firms must hold professional indemnity insurance that meets RICS minimum standards. RICS

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	F3 Surveyors Edinburgh	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £292k Net assets £172k (Jan 2025) Company no. SC242392 · Companies House f3surveyors.com
2	Jigsaw Surveyors Macclesfield, Cheshire	Approach Score 86/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £471k Net assets £249k (Nov 2025) Company no. 05638628 · Companies House jigsawsurveyors.com
3	Thomas Merrifield Oxford, Oxfordshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 85/100	Longest in post since 2000 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £270k Net assets £27k (Dec 2025) Director resigned Jan 2026 Company no. 03930451 · Companies House thomasmerrifield.co.uk
4	PR Associates Pershore, Worcestershire	Approach Score 84/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2010 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £816k Net assets £233k (Sep 2026) Company no. 07384000 · Companies House prassociates.org
5	HMC London	Approach Score 84/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £2.8m (Mar 2025) Company no. 07725901 · Companies House hmc.london
6	DowlingDodd Penryn, Cornwall	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2010 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £300k Net assets £219k (Dec 2025) Director resigned Mar 2026 · PSC register changed Mar 2026 Company no. 05515922 · Companies House dowlingdodd.co.uk
7	2 Plan Project Management Woking, Surrey	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £322k Net assets £9k (Sep 2025) Company no. 04213242 · Companies House 2planpm.co.uk
8	Ryland Design Market Rasen, Lincolnshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £913k Net assets £446k (Jun 2025) Company no. 05160536 · Companies House rylanddesign.co.uk
9	M.S. Surveys Suffolk	Approach Score 83/100	2 directors aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £368k Net assets £139k (Mar 2026) Company no. 06098087 · Companies House mssurvey.co.uk
10	Harris Associates London	Approach Score 83/100	In post since 2007 2 individuals hold 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 30 staff · turnover est. £2.9m Net assets £1.9m (Mar 2025) Company no. 06182797 · Companies House harrisassociatesuk.com
11	3D Services Godalming, Surrey	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2011 Independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £462k Net assets £53k (Mar 2026) Director resigned Jul 2025 · PSC register changed Jul 2025 Company no. 07586946 · Companies House 3dservices.co.uk
12	Roger Roberts (surveys) Swansea	Approach Score 82/100	In post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £196k Net assets £25 (Mar 2025) Company no. 06824818 · Companies House rogerroberts.co.uk
13	Kinnear Miller Associates Chester, Cheshire	Approach Score 81/100	Longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £494k Net assets £71k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07568623 · Companies House kmaqs.co.uk
14	Bemerton Consulting Liverpool A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 81/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2015 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £513k Net assets £446k (Aug 2025) Company no. 09731632 · Companies House bemertonconsulting.co.uk
15	Alliance Remedial Supplies Gosport, Hampshire	Approach Score 81/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2020 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £508k (Oct 2025) Company no. 07814823 · Companies House
16	Allen Construction Consultancy Taunton, Somerset	Approach Score 81/100	Longest in post since 2010 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £124k Net assets £933k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07095163 · Companies House allen.uk.com
17	Hook Survey Partnership Bexley	Approach Score 80/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2022 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £882k Net assets £401k (Mar 2025) Company no. 13983257 · Companies House hooksurvey.com
18	Land Survey Services Milford, Co. Armagh	Approach Score 80/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69, 1 aged 45-49, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £839k Net assets £547k (Oct 2024) PSC register changed Nov 2025 Company no. NI057211 · Companies House landsurveyservicesni.com
19	Assure Building Control Gateshead, Tyne & Wear	Approach Score 80/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2006 Independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £426k (Apr 2026) Director resigned Feb 2025 · PSC register changed Feb 2025 Company no. 05713377 · Companies House assurebuildingcontrol.co.uk
20	Masefields Studley, Warwickshire	Approach Score 80/100	Longest in post since 2006 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £374k Net assets £41k (Dec 2025) Company no. 06018364 · Companies House masefields.co.uk
21	ESC Construction Consultants Belfast, County Antrim	Approach Score 79/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 45-49 · longest in post since 2019 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £1.7m Net assets £529k (Mar 2025) Director resigned Mar 2026 Company no. NI661778 · Companies House escconstructionconsultants.com
22	Dovetail Building Consultants Corsham, Wiltshire	Approach Score 79/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2013 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £487k Net assets £312k (Nov 2025) Company no. 08787636 · Companies House dovetailbc.co.uk
23	The Mapping Taunton, Somerset	Approach Score 79/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £197k Net assets £191k (Jan 2026) Company no. 04653357 · Companies House mapping-company.co.uk
24	Frazers Surveyors Woking, Surrey	Approach Score 79/100	We hold older figures than Companies House Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £346k Net assets £415k (Mar 2021) · newer accounts made up to Mar 2026 Director resigned Apr 2026 · PSC register changed Apr 2026 Company no. 04713748 · Companies House frazers.co.uk
25	Penfro Consultancy Pembroke Dock, Dyfed	Approach Score 79/100	1 director aged 55-59, 2 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £360k Net assets £283k (Mar 2025) Company no. 05918668 · Companies House penfroconsultancy.co.uk

568 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 593 for £799 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 593 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

The score and the firm

Approach Score

The facts behind the score

Points for each part of the score

Financials with dates

Website

Publicly available contact details, where identified

Directors and shareholders

Director names

Director birth month and year

Director appointment dates

Named shareholders with more than 25%, with ownership bands

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

Frequently asked questions

How can I approach a surveying practice owner?

Say who you are when you make the first contact and explain the surveying disciplines you are looking to combine. Tell the owner you found their details on the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Show how to object to your use of their data and stop if they do. Check both the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service before phoning. Leave room for a confidential discussion of client work.

How do I verify a surveyor's RICS status?

RICS says its Find a Surveyor listings distinguish firms regulated by RICS from other firms in the directory. Check the firm's own status rather than treating a directory listing as proof of regulation. Then match the practice's claimed specialisms to the surveyors, reports and appointments you review. RICS membership or firm regulation should be described precisely, because neither alone tells you the scope of every instruction.

RICS

Can the surveying Approach Score compare technical work?

No technical inspection or professional judgement is part of the Approach Score. It organises Companies House evidence so you can decide which practices to research first; the methodology page explains that process. Compare qualifications, insurance and the type of instruction behind each fee yourself. A practice may rank highly while doing work outside the specialism your group wants to add.

How should I assess the value of recurring survey work?

Look for signed frameworks or repeat-client agreements and identify what work they actually commit the client to commission. Compare past instructions with the capacity of the surveyors who delivered them. Check whether a client can change provider freely and whether fees depend on a named professional. Repeat work can be valuable, but a history of instructions is not the same as a guaranteed future fee.

How this list is filtered

Active on Companies House. Companies in liquidation, administration, receivership or a voluntary arrangement, or with a proposal to strike off, are left out.
Dormant companies are left out.
Firms whose owners asked to be removed are left out.
Private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies only. Sole traders and partnerships are not covered.
Firmbase industry tag: Property Surveying & Valuation or Quantity Surveying.
SIC code 74902, 74909, 71122 or 71129.
5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the UK.

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

We cover limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on Companies House, so they are not here. Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Check firm regulation through RICS Find a Surveyor, which distinguishes regulated firms from other listings. RICS registration requirements depend on the firm's structure.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

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The standard Firmbase list

Surveying Companies in the UK