Smaller firms making waves

The usual suspects dominate the top three spots in this month's rankings of QSs: Davis Langdon, Gardiner & Theobald and Cyril Sweett. Lower down in the table, compiled based on the project value of contracts won in the 12 months to date, smaller firms are making an impression.

These include DBK Back, which has won a raft of new QS contracts in the past year, putting it at number 25 in the QS table. Recent appointments include the project manager and cost consultant role on the multi-million pound redevelopment of the former GKN site on Millfields Road in Bilston. DBK has also won the cost consultant role on Redrow Homes West Midlands' £30m landmark ‘Hemisphere' residential scheme, comprising 343 apartments next to the site of the Tally Ho - a high quality residential scheme opposite Edgbaston cricket ground. Within central Birmingham, DBK is the QS on the planned redevelopment of Edgbaston shopping centre on the Calthorpe Estate and the company has also been appointed by Arena Central as the project manager for its 2m sq ft of mixed-use development on Broad Street.

Thornton-Firkin is in at number 18 in the QS table based on a number of key contracts won in the 12 months to date. These include the £25m Euro Central project to build a printing centre for News International near Glasgow. The firm is meanwhile close to completing the £50m Doncaster College project. It specialises in education, newspaper companies, retail, leisure and housing.

• This information was compiled for QS News by ABI Building Data (www.abibuildingdata.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.