LONDON — BECG (Built Environment Communications Group) has acquired public affairs consultancy Cavendish for an undisclosed sum, and re-launched the business as Cavendish Advocacy.

The eight-strong agency will continue to trade as a separate company, with founder Alex Challoner continuing as managing director. He will join the main board of BECG, reporting to CEO Stephen Pomeroy. The combined business now has a team of 88.

As a result of the acquisition, BECG’s government relations clients will have access to Cavendish’s national and international network, and its experience in political advocacy and government relations.

In return, Cavendish Advocacy’s clients, including Google, Starbucks, Infosys, Aster Group, Keolis and Canal & River Trust, will have access to BECG’s digital and social media team, as well as BECG’s network across the UK and its specialist expertise in devolved and regional government.

Pomeroy (pictured) said: “Continuous change is the new-normal across the globe and this acquisition and re-launch of Cavendish Advocacy, which we initiated at the beginning of 2020, provides clients with the digital advocacy services they need to secure commercial success.

“Covid-19 is posing a huge challenge to the UK but in many respects, it will result in an intensification of the Government’s pre-Covid agenda.  This will manifest itself as a combination of regional, national, and international policy initiatives and we have positioned Cavendish Advocacy to offer thinking, insights, and strategy to help clients navigate this landscape and succeed.

He added that the acquisition was an important step in delivering more rapid growth for BECG by offering additional government relations advocacy services to existing clients in the built environment sector: “With Cavendish on board we see fresh development opportunities as the government announces the infrastructure, energy, housing and green agenda for growth”.

Challoner said: “Cavendish and BECG are looking to the future. The onset of Covid-19 will mean the delivery of the government’s agenda in terms of growth, levelling the UK regions and as the UK resets its relationship with the rest of the world outside the EU over the next few years.

“With BECG’s resources behind us we look forward to scaling up our political advocacy work in the UK and globally, and to offering clients innovative communications solutions that help them achieve commercial success in this new world post Covid-19.”