London and Manchester-based independent building and project consultancy Paragon has opened an office in Edinburgh as part of its ongoing controlled growth strategy.

Located on George Street, the office is led by David Philip, who was previously building consultancy partner at Knight Frank in Edinburgh, where he worked for the past 11 years.

David has joined Paragon as a director and head of office alongside Jamie March, who worked with him as an associate at Knight Frank over the past three and a half years. Jamie joins the business as an associate building surveyor.

The consultancy already provides a range of services to clients either based or owning property in Scotland including Aberdeen Standard Investments, Rockspring Property Investment Managers, Tristan Capital, Ediston Real Estate and Oval Real Estate.

John Munday, Paragon joint managing director, said: “We believe there is a great deal of opportunity for Paragon in Scotland. Our distinct collaborative approach provides clients with highly effective integrated services underpinned by smart thinking and delivered with practical advice. It gives us a clear point of differentiation and gives clients a much wanted viable alternative in the markets in which we operate.”

Founded as an independent consultancy in London in 2009 with ten directors and four employees, Paragon achieved revenues of £1.7m in its first year. In 2015, the consultancy opened a second office in Manchester to service its northern clients. The consultancy now employs more than 100 people and its revenues were £12.2m for the year ended 31 March 2017.

Paragon joint managing director, Robert Perry, added: “We have taken time to find and make the right appointments to allow us to realise our ambitions of opening an office in Edinburgh. In David, we have a hugely respected professional with a reputation for providing clear, commercial advice who also has an excellent professional network, whilst Jamie is a very talented and ambitious building surveyor.

“They are a proven team and we look forward to seeing them grow Paragon’s presence in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland.”

David has over 20 years’ experience as a building surveyor and has acted as project manager and contract administrator on numerous high profile refurbishment and office fit out projects. With considerable expertise in professional services, including dilapidations, David has carried out technical due diligence over some of Scotland’s most prestigious buildings.

Jamie became professionally qualified in 2014 and began working with David that year. His expertise includes space planning and audit, dilapidations, contract administration, schedules of condition, building survey reports and application for statutory consents.

Commenting on the Edinburgh office launch, David said: “Paragon’s ambition, expertise and collaborative approach are ideal for the Scottish market. The opening of the Edinburgh office has immediately created opportunities for Paragon and Jamie and I are enjoying taking our consultancy’s dynamic offer to the marketplace.

“Our intention is to rapidly develop the Edinburgh office, so we are very pleased with the start we have had to the year. Working closely with the rest of Paragon’s senior management team, our aim is to maintain this momentum by providing existing and new clients with integrated, commercially astute advice across all aspects of building surveying and project consultancy.”