June, 2007: Mr Brian Dackers, Chairman of Rider Hunt Australia and New Zealand is pleased to announce the launch of Rider Levett Bucknall.
Rider Hunt, Australia's largest construction cost consultancy, have formed a global practice with Levett & Bailey in Asia and Bucknall Austin in the UK, together forming the third largest construction consultancy in the world – Rider Levett Bucknall.
This announcement heralds the union of three market leading, property and construction consultancies from across the globe to form an international practice. Strong goals and vision will bind Rider Hunt, Levett & Bailey and Bucknall Austin together under the one brand, Rider Levett Bucknall.
Rider Levett Bucknall launches as a major force in the international consultancy world with an annual turnover of approximately US$200million $260million AUD and over 1,750 staff in over 70 offices across the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Europe and the Middle East.
Mr Dackers stated, "By bringing together three market leading firms, we can now better serve our clients across all continents. We are witnessing a growing demand from our clients for a seamless global service and we are now able to provide this".
Mr Dackers was also clear in the company's continued dedication to its local clients. "Our commitment to our local clients remains as steadfast as ever. Clients can rely on Rider Levett Bucknall whether their project is in our own backyard, or on the other side of the world. Either way, we have the resources and experience to provide the service they need and the attention to detail they deserve".
Simon Birchall, Director of Rider Levett Bucknall (UK) said, "We are delighted to be part of this global practice, which enables us to compete effectively with our competitors around the world while retaining the very established Bucknall name. In addition to now being able to provide enhanced services to our clients with a global presence, we are already directly benefiting significantly from opportunities with Rider Levett Bucknall's American, Asian and Oceanic connections. The ability to offer new staff across the world global employment opportunities has also boosted our recruitment drive considerably in a difficult market."
Stephen Lai, Director of Rider Levett Bucknall (Asia) said, "the formation of the global practice will ensure Rider Levett Bucknall is one of the top consultancies in the world. With a wider range of services and access to a global network, our position in the market will be strongly enforced".
In addition to the core services of cost consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall will become increasingly noted for the array of innovative advisory services, which include developments in areas such as the environment, whole life cost modelling, property evaluation and facilities management and procurement – all with an international focus.
"The global construction market is worth an annual US$4,000 billion(AU$4 trillion) and as one global entity, Rider Levett Bucknall will fast track to become of one of the world's leading providers of information on market trends and benchmarking costs, as well as a regular publisher of local and international construction data, " said Mr Dackers.
Mr Harris said, "The collaboration between Rider Levett Bucknall in Australia and the UK has seen projects such as those with BAE Systems come to fruition – projects worth several hundreds of millions of dollars are now going to be managed on a local level, but with direct links to global best practice".
Mr Harris also pointed out that the new relationship is a two way street, "Rider Levett Bucknall in Australia have recently introduced one of its major clients, Grosvenor, a property developer and investor, to the UK. The UK portfolio of this client is potentially worth billions of pounds".