A Croydon-headquartered cost and project management business has joined forces with a 650-strong international firm to form a new partnership to “create something bigger than the sum of their parts”.

Henry Riley was founded in 1890 and traded continuously ever since. It now has both a national and overseas presence.

It has joined forces with TSA Management, a major project management and advisory business based in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.

Together, the pair will expand their reach, experience and expertise to almost 900 project professionals across 24 offices.

The partnership will also provide TSA and Henry Riley staff with the opportunity to work in new regions and sectors, and with new clients.

David Needham, chief executive of Henry Riley, said: “As part of our five-year business plan, and in line with our ‘be ambitious’ value, we are looking to accelerate our growth. Not for the sake of growth alone, but for the value and opportunities growth creates for our business, and most importantly, our people.

“We feel TSA share our people-first culture and our commitment to integrity, as well as our broader values.

“From the start, our conversations have centred on what this move might mean for our people. We believe this partnership creates something bigger than the sum of the parts – truly a 1+1=3 opportunity.”

Andrew Wilson, chief executive of TSA, added: “As a business, we are looking to diversify geographically, and feel that the UK generally, and Henry Riley specifically, are a fantastic fit from a cultural, regulatory and project perspective.

“We work in many of the same sectors and offer some similar services, however, we do have different areas of expertise – for example, Riley’s cost management experience is a growth opportunity for TSA.

“Understanding and growing from each other’s regional knowledge, specialties and experience will benefit us both. We believe there are many new and exciting opportunities for everyone as a result of this change, and we are keen to work together to create bigger and more exciting new opportunities that we hadn’t envisaged when we launched our five-year plan.”

Making the right decision for Henry Riley’s next chapter is “of the utmost importance” to its executive directors, with the partnership representing a “coming together of shared values”.

Henry Riley’s strategy over the past ten years has been centred around organic growth. While this has been successful, it has been apparent in recent years that the ambitions and talents in the business “have been steadily pushing beyond the boundaries that organic growth can achieve”.

Needham added: “Getting to know TSA and understanding that their values are completely aligned with ours has enabled us to develop a true partnership approach which is so important to us.

“The integrity with which we operate, for both our people and our clients, is not something we ever would or ever will compromise on. I have complete confidence that this partnership is the right thing to do and we are looking forward to the opportunities it will bring for our people and clients.”

Henry Riley has its headquarters in Croydon, as well as offices in Birmingham, Bolton, Bristol, Cambridge, Leicester, London, Manchester and Newcastle.