We have advised Black Cat Building Consultancy (Black Cat), a Manchester-based commercial project and building consultancy, on its investment from BGF.
Founded in 2015, Black Cat has grown into one of the UK’s leading independent building consultancies, working across commercial, industrial, retail and public sector property. It specialises in a range of services including building surveying, design, rating, mechanical and electrical, compliance and project management, with projects managed totalling more than €860m (£734m) and spanning 83m sq. ft. Operating across 10 offices nationwide, Black Cat has grown its team to 91 and was named the Best Medium-Sized Place to Work in the Building & Construction Industry in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026.
Investment from BGF – the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor – will allow Black Cat to accelerate its expansion into new locations across the UK and Ireland, while growing its workforce and enhancing client services. As part of the deal, Ian Plumb will join Black Cat as Non-Executive Chair from BGF’s Talent Network.
More about the process
Our M&A team worked closely with the shareholders and management of Black Cat from the outset to understand their objectives and shape a transaction that balanced their long-term strategic objectives with strong cultural alignment, with BGF identified early as the preferred partner in an off-market process.
The engagement focused on structuring a transaction that allowed an element of de-risking for the founding shareholders, supported Black Cat’s continued growth while crucially preserving its strong reputation for technical excellence and client service.
Our team worked closely with Black Cat’s management, assisting with detailed financial preparation, while managing a full suite of buy-side diligence, and leading negotiations which ultimately delivered an exceptional outcome for the shareholders and management within a streamlined timeline. The transaction secured a high-quality investment partner in BGF, well-positioned to support Black Cat’s next phase of growth.
