Capita Symonds has announced the acquisition of M&E engineering consultancy Pearce Buckle Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Pearce Buckle is one of the UK's leading engineering consultancies in the custodial sector, with key alliances on the HM Prison Service Constructor Framework Agreement. It has also a strong reputation in the healthcare sector having worked for a large number of NHS Trusts and as a partner on the ProCure21 framework.

The company will now be known as Capita Pearce Buckle and will work closely with Capita Symonds' existing 100-strong office in Sheffield.

Formed in 2000 and subject to a MBO in 2002, Pearce Buckle is currently working on over 20 HM Prison schemes, including the conversion of RAF Coltishall to a Category C Prison. Other ongoing projects include the Gateway Plaza mixed-use development in Barnsley; the refurbishment of the Portobello Centre at the University of Sheffield; and various projects at Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire.

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This is the third acquisition for Capita Symonds in the past four months, and follows the acquisitions of land planning consultancy Lovejoy in March and civil and structural engineering consultancy NRM Bobrowski in April.

Jonathan Goring, Managing Director, Capita Symonds said: "2008 continues to be an extremely exciting year for Capita Symonds. This is our third acquisition of the year, focused on targeting strategic growth markets with world class niche consultancy skills. In our experience our reputation is best earned when our people are the very top of their game and they retain a clear identity within Capita Symonds. Pearce Buckle brings a great deal of engineering expertise and experience to Capita Symonds, particularly in the custodial and healthcare sectors, and will undoubtedly strengthen our current work in these markets."

(CD/JM)