Construction and property consultancy Gardiner & Theobald has acquired a significant interest in Belfast-headquartered WH Stephens.
This move will provide Gardiner & Theobald with a strong platform for growth in Ireland as both firms look to expand their presence and capability across a range of sectors. WH Stephens operates in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with a strong portfolio spanning health, education, commercial, leisure, residential, hotels and masterplanning, supporting clients across the public and private sectors.
WH Stephens managing director Denis McCotter and his senior leadership team will retain a significant equity stake in the business, remain in their current roles and continue to have full autonomy over day-to-day operations. This ownership structure also provides a pathway for future generations of WH Stephens employees to become equity shareholders over time.
Gardiner & Theobald managing partner Adam Glover said: “This investment in WH Stephens is an important milestone in G&T’s long-term growth in Ireland and complements our wider business in the UK and US.
“Together we can expand our reach across Ireland, pursue larger and more complex public and private sector opportunities, and deliver an even higher level of expertise and value to clients. With a strong cultural fit, we are excited to work alongside WH Stephens’s talented team, learn from their deep local expertise and support them to grow the business across all sectors of the built environment.”
Both WH Stephens and Gardiner & Theobald share a long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality consultancy services across project management, cost management, principal designer roles and advisory services. This investment brings together two firms with aligned values, complementary expertise and a shared ambition to pursue new and larger opportunities in the Irish market.
By combining WH Stephens’ deep local knowledge and established reputation with Gardiner & Theobald’s broader market reach and scale, the partnership seeks to strengthen its collective ability to support public and private sector clients across Ireland and to deliver larger, more complex programmes of work for both existing and new clients.
Commenting on the investment, Denis McCotter said: “The Investment from Gardiner & Theobald represents an exciting new chapter for our firm which we are confident creates the platform to grow further, take on more ambitious commissions and strengthen our presence across Ireland.
“We look forward to working closely with our new colleagues and exploring the opportunities this brings for our clients and our people.”
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