An engineering consultancy working on the new home of HSBC UK in Birmingham has acquired a city rival.

BWB Group, which has 56 staff at its base in the Colmore Business District, has bought Birmingham-based EDCM which specialises in mechanical and electrical engineering.

The undisclosed deal forms part of BWB's strategy to grow its digital engineering capability as EDCM will bring in additional expertise in building information management (BIM) and building physics.

BWB, which employs 270 people across a network of seven offices, said the deal was expected to help drive group turnover through the £20 million barrier over the course of the next 12 months.

EDCM, which was founded in 2007, is led by directors Jim Benson, Steve Beverley, Peter Leonard and Leon Maddison and also has an office in Leeds.

All four will stay with the business post-deal.

Mr Benson said: "This is the right deal for both EDCM and BWB and joining forces allows us to leverage our expertise and relationships into new sectors and different geographic areas.

"Our existing clients will also now have access to a 'one stop shop' consultancy service. We share a vision of where the property sector is heading.

"Technologies like BIM have provided golden opportunities for progressive clients to look holistically at both capital and operational costs across the lifecycle of their assets.

"More than ever, they need trusted advisers with the analytical, visualisation and digital engineering skills to deliver sustainable, energy efficient solutions."

This deal is part of an expansion strategy by BWB which began three years ago with the acquisition of DKS Consultants, the nucleus from which BWB has developed an mechanical and electrical service.

BWB's chief executive Steve Wooler added: "Our long-term focus is to continue adding value to our consultancy services through the creative application of technology, underpinned by a business growth strategy that includes selective acquisition of complementary businesses."