Key Points
- Construction consultancy Bentley has opened a new office in London, signalling its expansion into the South of England.
- The London launch builds on Bentley’s established presence in the Midlands and North.
- The new office will focus on strategic land schemes and major development projects in the region.
- Main board directors Jonathon Bentley (Managing Director) and Tom Mascari will lead the London operations.
- Bentley currently has around 13 live sites across the South and is actively recruiting in the region to support growth.
- The move is part of Bentley’s strategic plan for 2024-2030, emphasising regionalisation as a key objective.
- The expansion follows a recent organisational restructure aimed at supporting growth across regions.
- The news is relevant to professionals and students seeking career development in areas such as Construction & Project Management and Development & Cost Consultancy.
Bentley Opens London Office to Strengthen Southern Footprint
The national construction consultancy Bentley has officially launched a new office in London, marking a significant milestone in its regional growth strategy. The London arm will enable the firm to build closer relationships with clients across the South of England, broaden its strategic land and development work, and extend the successful model it has established in other regions.
What prompted Bentley’s London launch?
As reported by Lexi Smith in PAD Magazine, “From the outset, our 2024–2030 strategic plan placed regionalisation at the heart of our growth objectives.”
Jonathon Bentley, Managing Director at Bentley, commented: “Opening our London office is an important milestone for us. With a growing portfolio of sites and clients in the South, the time is right for us to establish a permanent base in London.”
Bentley’s operations have already been growing in the Midlands and the North, and now the firm is ready to replicate that success further south.
The selection of London is strategic: by creating a local base, the consultancy aims to reinforce its offer in strategic land, development management and cost consultancy.
Which roles will the new office cover?
The London office will support Bentley’s core services: project management, development management, cost management.
Responsibility for the launch lies with two of the main board directors: Jonathon Bentley and Tom Mascari. They will spearhead the firm’s expansion in Southern England.
Bentley currently has 13 live sites across the South and is recruiting to support the pipeline of work.
What does this mean for the Southern market?
By establishing a dedicated London hub, Bentley intends to bring its national reach into sharper local focus. This local presence gives the firm the ability to respond more rapidly to client needs and regional opportunities. As stated: “This move allows us to be closer to our clients, strengthen our work in strategic land, and grow a local team.”
It also reflects broader industry trends of consultants looking to regionalise their services, moving beyond traditional strongholds into growth territories. With the South of England featuring significant strategic land and development opportunities, Bentley’s decision aligns with market demand.
How will the internal structure support this growth?
In March 2025, Bentley announced a significant organisational restructure to support its growth plans.
Key leadership changes included the appointment of Sue Hunter as Regional Director for the Midlands, and Melanie Noble as People and Operations Director moves designed to enhance regional leadership capacity.
Commenting on the restructure, Jonathon Bentley said: “Through this new governance structure, our team will be positioned to continue their work in delivering outstanding results for our clients…”
The restructure is effective from 1 April 2025 and introduces dedicated leadership across the business sectors to enhance regional penetration and delivery.
Why is the London office launch significant?
The London launch is significant on multiple fronts:
- It underscores the maturity of Bentley’s operations outside its original heartlands in the Midlands and North.
- It demonstrates confidence in the Southern market and the ability to operate at scale across multiple regions.
- It signals to clients, employees and the market that Bentley is committed to long-term growth, regional investment and higher client engagement.
Furthermore, the move aligns with Bentley’s long-term strategic plan (2024-2030) that identifies regionalisation as a key objective.
What are the immediate operational implications?
In practical terms, the London base will:
- Allow Bentley to serve clients more locally in the South of England, potentially reducing response times and improving service delivery.
- Support the firm’s expanding pipeline of strategic land schemes and development projects.
- Enable Bentley to recruit local talent and build a team aligned with its growth ambitions in the region.
- Strengthen engagement with both public- and private-sector clients across strategic land, residential and commercial development sectors.
Who are the key people driving this?
- Jonathon Bentley, Managing Director – has emphasised the importance of regionalisation and the readiness of the firm to launch in London.
- Tom Mascari, Main Board Director – will take a leadership role in the Southern operations.
- Sue Hunter and Melanie Noble – although not London-specific, their appointments underlie the broader leadership shift supporting growth.
What does this mean for professionals and students?
For those interested in careers in Construction & Project Management and Development & Cost Consultancy, this expansion may present opportunities:
- A growing pipeline of work in the South may demand project-managers, cost-consultants and development specialists.
- Bentley’s investment in regional teams suggests potential for professional advancement and regional roles.
- The firm’s emphasis on strategic land and development projects aligns with current industry demand, offering relevant experience for students and graduates seeking entry into the sector.
What could the next steps be?
Moving forward, Bentley is likely to focus on:
- Building out the London team and making further regional hires.
- Strengthening its pipeline of projects in the South and working with existing clients to expand their site portfolios.
- Maintaining growth momentum established in the Midlands and North while replicating that success in the new region.
- Monitoring the competitive landscape and positioning itself as a major consultancy in the Southern region.
Will the launch pose any challenges?
While the move presents significant opportunity, there are potential challenges:
- Building a new regional team that replicates the quality and culture of the existing business will require investment in recruitment and retention.
- Navigating competition in the Southern market may place pressure on margins or require differentiation.
- Ensuring consistent service delivery across regions as the business scales could test operational robustness.
- Aligning the new London base with the broader strategic goal (2024-2030) while managing risk and maintaining existing operations will be a balancing act.
How is the firm framing this expansion in its own words?
In the Construction News piece, Bentley described the London office as “the next stage in its regional growth strategy and strengthening its footprint across the South of England.”
Similarly, the firm indicated the move “allows us to be closer to our clients, strengthen our work in strategic land, and grow a local team that reflects our ambitions in the region.
Bentley’s opening of a London office represents a calculated step in its regional growth strategy, building on its foundations in the Midlands and North, and expanding its presence into the South of England. With a focus on strategic land, development and cost consultancy, and led by experienced directors Jonathon Bentley and Tom Mascari, the firm is positioning itself to replicate previous regional success in a new geography. For professionals and students in Construction & Project Management and Development & Cost Consultancy, this expansion may unlock new opportunities and signal strong confidence in the Southern UK development market. The next phase will test Bentley’s ability to scale effectively and deliver consistent high-quality service across regions.