Team Civic Story

Having worked together since 2000, the company grew out of their successful partnership and shared understanding that a silo effect was holding back their profession and there was an urgent need to respond to the rapidly changing needs of our society’s towns, cities and planet.

Their mindset and mission was clear from the outset. As early adopters of ESG principles, they set out to combine empathy, artistic and scientific skills to design inspirational structures and places that put people and climate resilience at their heart. 

The business grew quickly and became recognised for working on innovative, acclaimed projects such as New Islington in Manchester, Leeds Climate Innovation District and the redevelopment of the Ruskin College Campus in Oxford. It became a blueprint for making positive impact and meaningful difference through its growing studio footprint which over time has expanded to Manchester, Leeds, London, Glasgow and Dublin.

In July 2022, Civic was launched as the parent company. This was to incorporate a suite of complementary service offerings, all with the aim of having an even greater, longer-term impact. The vision remained consistent however with the focus being on having a positive impact on the environment and enabling people to lead healthier and happier lives.

Now Civic is home to a collective of carefully curated businesses including the founding entity Civic Engineers alongside Civic (Ireland), Civic Earth and Civic Heritage, and the acquisitions of Watt Energy & Consulting and placemaking and community engagement specialists New Practice.

All businesses are housed under the proudly authentic name and banner of Civic – which means ‘of the place and the people’ – with a team of experts who can speak to the needs of the here and now of the climate crisis and the societal change we must respond to.

Thriving together, today we have more than 170 team members working across the UK, all united by our creative belief, bringing art and science together to solve problems.

Our teams are made up of thoughtful, considerate disruptors with a clear mission - to care for and protect our climate and communities.

Our Civic board is led by the ongoing vision, creativity and leadership of Civic’s original founders CEO Stephen O'Malley and COO Julian Broster, alongside CFO Simon Edwards.

They are joined by Executive Chair Dominic Miller, a seasoned corporate strategist from outside the built environment who brings experience and best practice from other industries. That is alongside Non-Executive Director Michelle McDowell MBE, an award-winning structural engineer by profession, whose accolades include leading the 250-strong design team for the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, as well as holding an MBE for services to the construction industry.

Together, we are a team of system thinkers in the built environment, passionate about our responsibility to leave a positive legacy through our work, for neighbourhoods now and the next generation. This is our conscience and what it means to be Civic – of the place and the people.