A Warrington-based land management and stakeholder engagement firm has grown by almost 40 per cent in a year.

Ardent, which operates in the transport, renewables, utilities, and regeneration sectors, has achieved a turnover of £14.8 million, up from £10.75 million the previous year.

The company, which also has offices in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Dublin, and Glasgow, currently employs 180 staff and aims to grow this number to 250 by 2026.

Jonathan Stott, Ardent's group managing director, said: "We were very ambitious when we set our targets just over a year ago and we’ve gone beyond that in the past 12 months, which is a testament to the whole team and the level of knowledge and expertise they provide to clients every single day."

Mr Stott added that the rapid growth in turnover allows the company to reinvest in all areas of the business.

He said: "We are committed to creating the very best career development opportunities and to growing our own expert practitioners in each area of our operation."

Ardent has achieved growth in each area of the business, with expansion in renewables and utilities.

This growth is attributed to Ardent's place on the National Grid's framework, supporting Thames Water's new reservoir project, and providing land and engagement services on multiple utility-scale solar projects.

The company's Consent Management Consultancy team is also set to play a role in the Great Grid upgrade, and will be supporting Sizewell nuclear power station and East West Rail.

Mr Stott said: "Our purpose is to deliver life-improving change to communities and future generations, and we support projects that will make a genuine difference – whether it's regeneration in our towns and cities or renewable energy helping the drive towards UK net zero."

He added: "It is this desire to deliver change that spurs us on to grow and means we will start to look at further expansion in the coming years."

The company is also looking towards growth in the renewables sector, particularly in Ireland.

Pete Gibbard, Ardent's head of strategic growth in the renewables sector, said: "We are thrilled to have seen such incredible growth over the past year, with a very positive outlook for the coming 12 months too.

"The work we do at Ardent is vitally important and delivers change for communities and the country as a whole.

"With such a national focus on bringing forward more renewable energy, we are in a prime position to support that ambition."