BB7 Consulting and CERTANIA Group form interdisciplinary built environment firm
BB7 Consulting has joined the CERTANIA Group, to form a comprehensive and interdisciplinary consultancies for the built environment. The move marks a major step in both firms’ growth and the creation of one of the UK’s most
BB7 Consulting is a fire, façade and building safety advisory services firm. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chatham, it operates from multiple offices across the UK and Ireland, helping clients design, verify, and maintain safe and compliant buildings. As a certified B Corporation and recognised as an outstanding employer by Best Companies, BB7 also adheres to a standard for responsible business, driving sustainable growth and delivering social value with a “one team” approach.
With a network of 10 offices and a team of more than 150 experts, including 30 chartered professionals, BB7 continues to expand its national presence and expertise. As it looks to kick on from this early success, it has joined the CERTANIA Group.
“Joining CERTANIA marks a defining moment for BB7,” said Ben Bradford, Founder and CEO of BB7 . “This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver our purpose, adding certainty to life, by shaping safer, more sustainable built environments. With CERTANIA, we gain the scale and support to accelerate our vision, while maintaining the independence and values that define us.”
Headquartered in Munich, CERTANIA is an international testing, inspection and certification company with centuries of experience. The company’s experts have shaped industry standards and pioneered methods from food and life sciences to energy, industry, construction, and infrastructure across Europe.
Landmark partnership
The partnership also marks a major step in CERTANIA’s strategic expansion into the UK and Ireland buildings and infrastructure market, with BB7 serving as the cornerstone of a new platform focused on building safety, regulatory assurance, and sustainable design. Together with Clarke Banks and Xact, BB7 will form a joint business within CERTANIA’s buildings and infrastructure division , creating one of the UK and Ireland ’s most comprehensive and interdisciplinary consultancies for the built environment.
“BB7 brings outstanding expertise, leadership, and reputation in building safety and fire engineering,” added Karsten Xander, founder and CEO of CERTANIA. “Their entrepreneurial mindset and technical excellence perfectly align with our mission to build a group of specialist companies united by quality, trust, and purpose. Together, we are establishing a strong platform for Buildings & Infrastructure in the UK and Ireland .”
The deal also marks a successful exit for growth capital investor BGF which has backed BB7 since 2019. Founded as the British Growth Fund, BGF is the UK’s most active investment company, providing growth capital for small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK and Ireland. It specialises in providing long-term minority investment support.
