DBK Back edges forward

Fast-expanding Birmingham consultant DDK Back has emerged as a star in this month’s ranking of quantity surveyors.

In the past month DBK has almost doubled its workload thanks to geographic expansion and repeat business of around 90%.

The firm’s workload has gone from £85m in the year to 30 April 2006 to £154m in the year to 30 May. It is also boasting 24 live contracts this month, compared to eight last month. As a result DBK has moved up three positions, from 21 to 18 this month.

Duncan Berry, director of the company and one of three staff to lead last year’s buy-out, said the firm was sticking to what it knew best – the commercial development market. Yet it is entering new geographic territory with plans to open an office in the Southwest, probably Bristol.

Over the past five years DBK, formerly Back Group, has opened offices in London and Manchester.

Recent project wins include the £8.5m regeneration of the Arcadian cinema in Birmingham’s China town. The plan is to keep the shell and transform the insides into 80 flats. A car park in the lower part of the building will also be extended.

DBK is providing QSing, project management and building surveying on the scheme.

Higher up the QS ranking, Davis Langdon continues to hog the top spot. This month the firm has a massive £1.5bn in workload for the year to date. It is currently working on six city academies worth a combined £150m and the Walbrook office in the City of London, a Minerva development worth £130m.

• This information was compiled for QS News by ABI Building Data (www.barbour-abi.com).

• ABI’s figures include UK contracts with a value of £100,000 and above and all work awarded by negotiation or competitive tender, including residential and civils work.