June 2, 2026
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Utilising a funding package from HSBC UK, we’ve facilitated an ownership succession plan under which founders Mike Forsyth and Angelique Forsyth reduced their combined ownership interest from 51% to 26%, with a 25% stake in the business transferring to the senior leadership team.
The Employee Benefit Trust (EBT), which has held a 49% interest in the business since 2020, will continue to retain its shareholding following the transaction.
Following the completion of the MBO, the business will continue to be led by Mike Forsyth in his role as Chairman, supported by a senior leadership team comprising Lewis Duff (Managing Director), Graham King (Operations Director), Emma Gradwell (People & Performance Director) and Zoe Chiocci (Finance Director).
The transaction was supported by a wider advisory team, including Jeremy Cole, Partner at Cole Associates (Corporate Finance), Tom Larkin, Tax Director at JS (Accountants and Business Advisors), and Akeel Latif, Partner at Myerson Solicitors.
Overseeing more than 80 employees nationwide, the leadership team will spearhead the business’s growth and diversify its services, including the launch of a building safety and occupation solutions offering.
This expanded Building Safety Occupation service helps Accountable Persons (APs) and Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs) by providing practical, evidence-led support to ensure they can meet regulatory obligations under Part 4 of the Building Safety Act. Our service enables safer management of higher-risk residential buildings and helps clients demonstrate compliance and maintain resident trust.
It builds on Safer Sphere’s established services, enabling the business to support clients across the full building lifecycle, from design and construction through to occupation.
Alongside this, the business is developing a Fire Engineering Consultancy service, further strengthening its design safety offering.
“This is an exciting new chapter for the business, but our ethos and values remain the same. We are excited to enter this new era of leadership, which will allow our team to build on previous success with structured employee ownership. The steps we are taking will strengthen our ability to continue to deliver high quality services and bring new innovations to market.”
“It’s fantastic to support Safer Sphere transition through this MBO. It is clear that although there are changes to ownership, the structures and people that the business has in place look set to deliver continued growth into the future.”