Ethos Engineering, a leader in sustainable data centre design across EMEA and backed by Exponent, has acquired 3DEC Ltd, a UK-based technology design consultancy providing services to data centres, commercial workplaces and educational environments.

The transaction will bring 3DEC’s world-class expertise in ICT design services in-house at Ethos. These services are increasingly mission critical for digital infrastructure and cutting-edge workplaces. By acquiring 3DEC, Ethos will complement and build on its already strong client offering in this area.

This is the second strategic acquisition Ethos has made since June of last year, following its partnership with leading private equity firm Exponent in March 2024. Over this period, Ethos has significantly grown revenue, expanded its team to 259 employees, opened offices in the UK and the Netherlands, as well as recently opening a new purpose-built HQ in Dublin. This transaction expands headcount further with the addition of 3DEC’s team, which encompasses over 40 engineers.

Ethos will continue to explore strategic acquisition opportunities that broaden and enhance its service offering to clients.

Ethos Engineering chief executive Greg Hayden said: “We know the team at 3DEC well and have worked with them on many projects over the last six years, integrating them into our team as an extension of our service offering. Throughout this time, it’s been very clear that we share a similar culture, focused on excellence and innovation for clients. Bringing their expertise in-house will help us to enhance our offering and accelerate the delivery of projects. Adding their team of more than 40 highly skilled engineers also highlights our long-term commitment to the UK market and our continued investment in local capability.”

3DEC managing director Dylan Lewis said: “Ethos is a very successful and ambitious firm that has grown substantially over the last number of years. It is well-recognised across the industry for the excellence of its offering to clients, including a wide-range of blue-chip data centre customers. Our firms are a strong strategic fit for each other and by joining forces with Ethos, we will be able to develop faster than we would as a standalone business. We are grateful to our people and customers for their support of our business and look forward to a new era of growth and enhancement of our offering as part of the Ethos family.”

Anthony Clegg, partner at Exponent, said: “This acquisition is an important milestone for Ethos as the company continues to accelerate growth, broaden its service offering and increase headcount. Ethos has significantly expanded its client base since our investment, having worked with an impressive roster of major hyperscale and co-location data centre providers across Europe.”

The commercial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The 3DEC business will continue to operate under the 3DEC brand, led by managing director Dylan Lewis and the rest of the existing management team.

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