Remarkable Group buys property comms agency HardHat

Integrated public engagement, public affairs, PR and content marketing agency Remarkable Group has acquired London-based property comms firm HardHat to form the “UK’s largest public consultation and stakeholder comms agency”.

HardHat was launched by Andrew Howard, former head of comms at NHBC, in 2006, and specialises in the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.

HardHat will now be merged with Remarkable Engagement, Remarkable Group’s existing public consultation and stakeholder division, which it says will create the UK’s largest public consultation and stakeholder comms agency.

The combination will create a London office with 30 team members. Remarkable Group’s engagement team across its UK network, which includes offices in Manchester, Cardiff, Leeds, Bristol, Norwich and Winchester, will see its number grow to a more than 50-strong team.

Howard said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with the Remarkable Group. Remarkable’s reputation is long established as an innovative, creative and strategically focused company that focuses on delivering commercial results for its clients.

“We are all very much looking forward to being part of the next stage of the Remarkable journey and aligning with the diverse skillset offered across the Group’s network.”

This is the second acquisition by Remarkable Group in as many years. The first was in 2014 with the purchase of infrastructure and energy stakeholder consultation business, Pendragon Public Relations, now known as Remarkable Pendragon.

Stephen Pomeroy, chief executive at Remarkable Group, said: “This deal delivers on a long held ambition to set a new standard for the public consultation and stakeholder communications industry in the UK.

“Andrew Howard has built up a company with a powerful reputation across the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors and a senior team with extensive experience of major projects in London and elsewhere in the UK.”