About October Projects — Construction Project Management & Cost Consultancy If we were a restaurant we’d be chasing three Stars!
We’re not interested in being the biggest consultancy. We want to be exceptionally good at what we do. That means taking on the right projects, giving each one proper attention, and never lowering the standard just because nobody is watching.
(01) — Why October Projects
Small enough to care. Capable enough to deliver.
Boutique attention, big-firm capability
We’re deliberately lean — which means every client receives senior, hands-on involvement. But our collective experience spans complex, high-value schemes that most boutique consultancies can’t touch.
Tight cost & project control
We build certainty into every project from the start. Through disciplined cost planning, programme management and risk mitigation, we help clients avoid the costly surprises that erode budgets and confidence.
A personal, dynamic approach
We put the customer first — always. We’re agile enough to adapt, experienced enough to lead, and straightforward enough to make complex projects feel manageable from day one.
Clients shouldn’t have to…
- accept a junior team simply because that’s what fits the fee.
- explain their project repeatedly because people keep changing.
- wait days for a response from the person responsible.
If we take responsibility for a project, we take responsibility for delivering it. That’s the standard.
Our Purpose
Founded to put the client
back at the centre.
I started October Projects to put clients first: the senior person who wins your project delivers it, with no corporate layers or surprise fees. I’d rather be a trusted adviser for the long term than just another fee.
Ollie Thompson BSc (Hons) MRICSFounder & Director
October Projects is a boutique construction consultancy providing project and programme management, cost management, development management and strategic advisory. It was founded on a simple idea: that construction consultancy should feel personal.
After 15 years delivering complex, high-value schemes across the UK, our founder saw the same problems again and again: senior people winning projects, then handing them to junior teams; clients paying for layers of management; and advice shaped around fees rather than the client’s interests. October Projects was created to be the opposite: a consultancy where the senior person who wins your project delivers it, communication stays clear, and clients feel properly supported from day one.
Our size is a strength. With no layers between you and the people doing the work, you get senior expertise, quick decisions and a team fully committed to your project. We tell clients what they need to hear, not just what’s comfortable. We protect budgets, manage risk and bring clear, practical thinking to every decision, whether we’re supporting public bodies, private developers, contractors or asset owners.
Our team has led projects from £20k refurbishments to £350m major schemes. We combine big-firm experience with a personal, relationship-driven way of working, and our commitment doesn’t end at final account. It’s why clients trust us, and why they return.
What I wanted to do differently
- Keep the focus on the client.
- Keep the structure lean.
- Use process where it adds value.
- Keep experienced people close to the work.
- Make decisions close to the project.
- Give good ideas room to get through.
- Put service ahead of internal targets.
- Spend our time managing the project.
None of this is radical. So I decided to build a business around it.
(02) — Who We Work With
Trusted by the public sector, private developers and contractors alike.
Public bodies & councils
We provide independent, professional advice to local authorities and public sector organisations navigating complex built-environment projects — bringing certainty, accountability and value for public money.
Our sector experience
Private developers & funders
From feasibility and fund monitoring through to practical completion, we act as the trusted eyes and ears of investors and developers — protecting the investment case at every stage of the lifecycle.
Development management
Builders, contractors & architects
Through our dedicated estimating service, we provide professional estimating and cost planning to builders, contractors and architects — helping them price accurately and keep schemes on budget.
Builders, contractors & architects(03) — Our Story
Where the name comes from — and what it means.
It’s not a name chosen by a branding agency. OCT are Ollie’s initials, he was born in October, and October Projects officially began on 1 October 2026. But it represents something more — October is harvest season. The moment when preparation, hard work and careful management combine to deliver real, tangible results.
That philosophy runs through everything we do. We believe that outcomes are earned through care, attention to detail and real commitment — not left to chance. When you work with October Projects, you get a team invested in your success from the very first conversation.
We’re a small and agile consultancy — deliberately so. We combine the personal, responsive service of a boutique consultancy with the depth of expertise you would expect from a much larger firm. Every client receives senior attention. Every project receives the same level of care.
(04) — What We Stand For
Five values that guide every engagement.
01
Personal service & genuine care
We treat every client and every project as if it were our own. Senior attention from day one — not handed to a junior team once the contract is signed.
02
Integrity, honesty & trust
We tell clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Transparent reporting, clear advice and no surprises — that’s how long relationships are built.
03
Excellence in cost & project control
Careful cost management and programme control are at the core of what we do. We protect budgets, manage risk and keep projects on track.
04
Clear communication & collaboration
Complex projects require clear heads and open lines. We’re collaborative, approachable and easy to work with — at every level of a project team.
05
Professional expertise with a human touch
We bring deep technical expertise without the corporate distance. Clients tell us we’re highly personal, approachable and easy to work with.
(05) — Work With Us
Let’s talk about
your project.
Whether you’re at the very start of an idea or need senior support on a live scheme, we’d love to hear from you.