Novello Group Wins Surveyor of the Year After Growing from Garden Office Start-Up to £8 Million National Surveying Firm

The accolade caps a remarkable six-year journey. What started in 2019 as a two-person start-up operating out of a garden office is now a national firm delivering over £8 million worth of surveys annually.

From December 2025, Novello Group has also now fully merged Gold Crest Chartered Surveyors into the Novello brand - the combined business now employs more than 70 people, including over 40 qualified surveyors across the UK, and is now one of the largest providers of Home Surveys in the UK.​

The addition of Paul Wareham, formerly Managing Director of Countrywide Surveying Services, as an equity partner in 2022 accelerated this trajectory, bringing strategic vision and deep industry expertise to the leadership team.

James Brook, Co-Founder and Group CEO, said "Our aim is to fundamentally improve how surveying works in the UK and this award validates everything we've worked towards, but we're only getting started. 

Bringing Gold Crest Chartered Surveyors into the Novello family has allowed us to expand nationally as one of the largest suppliers of home surveys, setting the standard around the UK. We are now on a mission to replicate our quality and relationship-based ethos across the nation. With the team we've assembled, our commitment to technology, and our focus on genuine partnerships, the best is yet to come."

Novello has built its success through direct relationships with property professionals. The company's client portal, specifically designed for estate agents and solicitors, streamlines referrals and provides real-time updates throughout the survey process, earning particular recognition from the award judges.

Novello's innovative approach extends across its operations. The firm has developed tiered survey products tailored to different property types and client needs. Investment in AI and reporting technology continues, aiming to make home purchases faster and more transparent for buyers nationwide.This includes developing industry leading AI in-house, using computer vision to produce interactive reports with better insights and key data for clients and agents. And an AI quoting and scheduling tool offers instant bespoke quotes based on property complexity and provides accurate time slots to referrers.