ERM, a leading consultancy dedicated to sustainability, has finalised an acquisition of the environmental division of NewFields Companies, a move that will significantly enhance its technical and strategic capabilities. This acquisition will bring more than 100 experts into ERM’s fold, further solidifying its position in an increasingly competitive market.
The demand for sustainability consulting services is reaching unprecedented levels, driven by the need for businesses to adapt to various environmental and social pressures. Market research highlights that the global environmental, sustainability, and governance consulting sector is anticipated to experience a double-digit compound annual growth rate until 2027, indicating substantial opportunities for firms operating in this field.
As ERM positions itself as the world’s largest pure-play sustainability consultancy, it has undertaken multiple strategic acquisitions, including the recent purchases of Energetics and Workiva earlier in 2024. With these moves, ERM's global workforce has expanded to approximately 8,000 experts located across 40 countries and territories.
The acquisition of NewFields' environmental division will further enrich ERM's service offerings by incorporating expertise in areas such as environmental forensics, risk assessment pertaining to human health, and emerging contaminants. This addition aligns with ERM's strategic goals of addressing the multifaceted environmental challenges that businesses face while leveraging critical environmental data for informed decision-making and value creation.
Susan Angyal, ERM’s Regional CEO for North America, commented on the importance of this merger, stating, “Transforming environmental liabilities and legacy assets is fundamental to the sustainability goals of many organisations. Bringing together the expertise of ERM and NewFields Environmental Division will help clients to tackle an increasingly complex set of environmental challenges while harnessing the growing importance of environmental data for decision-making and value creation.”
NewFields Companies, established in 1995, is recognised for its proficiency in environmental, engineering, and construction management consultancy. With services spanning across 19 locations and a diverse array of 250 expert specialisms, the company's capabilities are extensive. It's worth mentioning that the remaining sectors of NewFields will continue to operate independently, allowing for a sustained presence in the market.
Patrick Gobb, NewFields' CEO, expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, indicating, “Joining forces with ERM presents an exciting opportunity for our team and clients. We share a commitment to environmental consulting and are eager to leverage our combined strengths to create lasting value for our clients.”
As ERM continues to broaden its scope with strategic acquisitions, it reinforces the ongoing trend within the consultancy sector towards enhanced sustainability practices, defined by the integration of advanced technology and a focus on environmental challenges.
Source: Noah Wire Services