Manchester-headquartered collaborative placemaking practice AEW Architects has completed a management buy-out, marking a significant step in its long-term succession strategy and strengthening the firm’s future ownership and leadership.
Led by managing director, Andy Rainford, the MBO follows a strong year for AEW, during which turnover exceeded £9.3m for the first time.
As director Colin Savage begins his planned transition from the business, the MBO marks the next stage in AEW’s succession strategy.
Existing shareholders Andy Rainford, Alan Lamb and Phil Hepworth are joined by Alex Southall, Danielle Purves and Mark Turner, recognising their longstanding contribution to the business and strengthening the next generation of leadership within the practice.
As part of the transition, AEW has implemented a series of strategic promotions.
Head of sustainability, Peter Bartley, has been promoted to a board director, reflecting both growth of the practice’s sustainability offering and demonstrating a long-term commitment to responsible operations. The move ultimately ensures that sustainability will remain embedded in strategic decision-making across the practice.
Leader of AEW’s sustainability team, Bartley has more than 20 years’ experience advising clients on certification, whole-life carbon and net zero strategies across a broad range of sectors. He is widely respected for his deep technical knowledge and ability to integrate sustainability principles into design strategies. He also led AEW’s successful B Corp accreditation and subsequent recertification.
Following Eamon O’Hara’s appointment to the board earlier this year, a need was identified for additional senior leadership support within AEW’s retail team. In recognition of their performance and combined 28 years with the practice, Jonathan Sheridan and Meg Wood have been promoted to associate director.
Working within a team responsible for AEW’s longstanding and rapidly-expanding retail roll-out portfolio, both have demonstrated exceptional leadership and developed extensive sector knowledge, helping to deliver projects for some of the practice’s most valued clients.
Savage, who joined AEW in 2017, will gradually transition out of the business over the coming months, continuing in a consultancy capacity to support a seamless handover.
Andy Rainford, managing director at AEW Architects, said: “This has been a phenomenal year, but we’re not sitting on our laurels.
“As a people-focused business employing 105 people, our success is the result of a huge collective team effort. The MBO and these promotions reflect our commitment to investing in our people, creating opportunities for progression and ensuring the next generation of leaders is well positioned to take the business forward. They also reinforce our belief that AEW’s long-term success depends on developing talent from within and building strong foundations for future growth.
“So much has happened since Colin and I assumed leadership of AEW in 2020. We have successfully weathered the Covid-19 pandemic, global conflicts and a period of significant political and economic uncertainty. At the same time, we have navigated major challenges within the construction sector, including the introduction of the Building Safety Act, ongoing viability pressures and the emergence of generative AI.
“Throughout this period, we have remained focused on building a stronger, more resilient AEW. We have invested in new premises, enhanced our technology infrastructure, grown our team by almost 70%, expanded into sustainability services and achieved outstanding client feedback results.
“At the same time, we have demonstrated our commitment to responsible business through accreditations including B Corp. The result is a robust, future-focused organisation that I am immensely proud to have helped shape and one that our new shareholder team is committed to growing, strengthening and leading into its next chapter with confidence.”
One of the largest North West architectural practices, AEW is a multi-award-winning B-Corp that has been named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work four years running.
It has received regional and national recognition for a number of high-profile projects, including Oldham Spindles, Cheadle Eco Park and Moor Lane, Bolton.
Pictured (from left): Andy Rainford, Phil Hepworth, Mark Turner, Peter Bartley, Danielle Purves, Alex Southall, Eamon O’Hara, Alan Lamb
