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Civic & Government

Shaping places, supporting public service

The public sector plays a defining role in shaping our towns, cities and communities. As government organisations continue to evolve to improve efficiency and service delivery, collaboration and integration have never been more critical.

Our way of working is well aligned with public sector construction strategy; bringing together multidisciplinary expertise to manage complexity, deliver change and unlock value. We're established partners to local, regional and central government, working through frameworks and direct appointments to deliver capital programmes, estate strategies and regeneration projects.

From strategic real estate and property finance to planning, regeneration and delivery, we support public bodies across the full lifecycle of assets. Our experience extends beyond the UK, with recognised expertise in PPP projects internationally, supporting complex programmes across a broad range of civic, government and public service environments.
 

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We think of everything

Because we combine deep public sector experience with a modern, forward-looking approach, we do more than design and deliver. We advise, challenge and improve. Our role is to support government priorities, protect public value and enable efficient, resilient services across complex estates.

  • Multidisciplinary delivery — Integrated architectural, structural and building services expertise tailored to civic and government environments, from courts and justice buildings to public offices and estate fit-outs.
  • Public estate strategy and optimisation — Strategic advice, option appraisals and space planning that help central and local authorities make better use of their assets and respond to changing policy and operational demands.
  • Project, programme and cost management — Robust cost planning, procurement and value management to deliver certainty, accountability and long-term value for public investment.
  • Compliance, risk and governance support — Expert guidance on statutory compliance, security and risk management across sensitive environments including custodial facilities and law courts.
  • Specialist advice — From early feasibility through to completion, tailored support for civic and government projects including central and local authority estates, justice and custodial facilities, government offices and public sector fit-outs.

 

Accessing our services through public sector frameworks

Public sector organisations can access our expertise through a range of national and regional framework agreements, providing a compliant and efficient route to appoint McBains for consultancy services.

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Who we work with

We've partnered with central and local government bodies across a wide range of civic and public sector organisations, delivering projects that balance policy objectives, operational needs and long-term public value.

Brent Council

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Cabinet Office

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Department for Work & Pensions

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Department for Education

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Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs

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Doncaster Council

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Enfield Council

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Food Standards Agency

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Government Property Agency (GPA)

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Guildford Borough Council

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Harlow Council

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Herefordshire Borough Council

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Home Office

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Lewisham Council

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Merton Council

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National Savings & Investment (NSI)

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Office of the Public Guardian

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Peterborough City Council

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Surrey County Council

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Tamworth Borough Council

“Having worked with McBains for the past three years, I can honestly say their team is outstanding. They’ve provided exceptional support across every project we’ve collaborated on, and the entire team consistently delivers excellent service and goes the extra mile for their clients. I wholeheartedly recommend McBains to anyone in the industry seeking their range of services.”

Josh Drew, Lifecycle Senior Programme Manager

Department for Work & Pensions

People who make it work

Working in the public sector is about more than delivering buildings. It's about supporting the people and services that keep communities and government operations running smoothly every day. Our teams work at the intersection of design, operations and delivery, applying insight, experience and collaboration to create efficient, resilient and future-ready environments. The work is challenging, meaningful and has a real impact on public service.

People

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