London Based Novello Group Acquires Gold Crest Chartered Surveyors

Founded in 2019 by James Brook and Jack Pye, Novello has transformed from two surveyors working out of a garden shed into one of the largest and most respected surveying firms in London in a remarkably short space of time. With this acquisition, the group now expands its footprint nationally, encompassing Novello Chartered Surveyors, Castles Surveyors, The Novello Private Office, and Gold Crest Chartered Surveyors.

A pivotal moment in the group's development came in 2022 when Paul Wareham, former Managing Director of Countrywide Surveying Services, joined Novello as an equity partner. Paul's industry experience and strategic vision have been instrumental in accelerating Novello's growth trajectory and establishing the group structure in place today.

James Brook, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Novello Group, commented:
"This is a transformative moment for Novello. In just six years, we've evolved from a start-up to a national group delivering over £8 million of surveys annually. Gold Crest brings exceptional talent and established foundations to our family, positioning us uniquely to lead the evolution of the home survey process across the UK. Our focus remains unwavering: delivering quality, embracing innovation, and building lasting relationships with agents, solicitors, and mortgage brokers nationwide."

The acquisition of Gold Crest, a respected firm with a strong national presence, extends Novello's geographic reach while maintaining their commitment to local expertise and exceptional client care. With a combined team now exceeding 70 staff including more than 40 surveyors, the group is investing heavily in developing AI technology and innovative reporting systems to make the home buying process faster, clearer, and more transparent. With a combined team now exceeding 70 staff including more than 40 surveyors, the group is investing heavily in developing AI technology and innovative reporting systems to make the homebuying process faster, clearer, and more transparent.

Novello's ethos has always centred on delivering quality service built on strong relationships rather than relying on online leads. The group's expanded national presence creates new opportunities to develop referring relationships with estate agents, mortgage brokers, and solicitor firms across the country.

The Novello story reflects resilience, innovation, and ambition. From humble beginnings without external investment, the founders built a business that combines technical excellence with superior client care and forward-thinking approaches. James Brook's journey from a council estate upbringing to creating one of the UK's fastest-growing surveying groups exemplifies the company's ethos of determination and vision. In 2020, just a year after launching Novello, Brook was awarded the prestigious RICS Matrics Surveyor of the Year and shortly after became one of the youngest Fellows of the RICS globally. With both Brook and co-founder Jack Pye still in their early 30s, the young leadership team emphasises they are only just getting started. The company's innovations already include developing a bespoke online referral platform for estate agents and mortgage brokers, training all surveyors as qualified drone pilots for comprehensive property inspections, and creating tiered survey offerings that provide tailored solutions for different property types and client needs.

Brook added:
"We have bold ambitions to shape the future of surveying in the UK and fundamentally improve the home buying process. With the exceptional team we now have across the Group, coupled with our continued investment in technology, we're confident the best is yet to come."