As businesses face a perfect storm of regulatory, cybersecurity and sustainability risks, LRQA has strengthened its position as an end-to-end risk management specialist with strategic acquisitions in ESG, clean energy, digital assurance, and responsible sourcing.
In response to surging global demand for more sophisticated risk management and assurance services, LRQA has completed five strategic acquisitions in just five months, priming it to reshape how businesses navigate risk in an era when change is the only constant.
From rapidly evolving supply chain legislation and cybersecurity threats, to the urgent race toward decarbonisation, companies are confronted with continual challenges to meet growing stakeholder and regulatory expectations. LRQA’s rapid expansion emphasises its intent to redefine the future of risk management and be the go-to global partner for organisations seeking not only compliance, but competitive advantage.
The five acquisitions reflect targeted growth in critical risk domains:
· Ergon Associates (UK) – Experts in labour rights and gender equality, boosting LRQA’s capabilities in responsible sourcing and social compliance at a time when forced labour regulations are intensifying.
· RESET Carbon (Hong Kong) – Leaders in carbon management across corporate and supply chains, bringing deep capabilities to LRQA’s fast-growing ESG assurance services.
· StepUp Solution Services (Canada) – Authorities on food safety, expanding LRQA’s reach into North American food safety and compliance, a key concern amid rising scrutiny of supply chain integrity.
· Core Business Solutions (US) – Top advisors for Quality Management Systems (QMS) certification and expanding its dedicated offering for Small to Medium Enterprises.
· EcoEngineers (US) – Renowned for work in renewable fuels, clean energy and decarbonisation strategies, accelerating LRQA’s expansion into clean tech assurance.
LRQA’s expansion strategy reflects a unique blend of entrepreneurial respect and forward-looking capability building. Each acquisition brings technical expertise along with a founder-led culture that aligns with LRQA’s commitment to quality, compliance and service.
Jonathan Chidley, Corporate Development Director for LRQA, said: “These acquisitions are not just about growth – they reflect LRQA’s commitment to integrating businesses with strong, founder-led cultures. For every acquisition we’ve made, we recognise that the owners are entrusting us with their life’s work. They want to sell to a company that values their legacy, their people and their mission. Crucially, we’re ensuring that expertise, relationships, and innovation continue to flourish within LRQA.”
This principle also reflects LRQA’s own leadership story: CEO Ian Spaulding joined LRQA after founding and leading ELEVATE, a leading supply chain sustainability firm. His continued emphasis on purpose-led growth, digital transformation, and global trust has helped position LRQA as one of the most dynamic players in the assurance space.
Of the recent acquisitions, Ian said: “Our clients are facing a radically shifting risk landscape; one that is faster, more complex and more public than ever before. Bringing these five companies under the LRQA umbrella ensures that our clients are staying ahead of risks that can threaten their reputation, operations and future.”
As businesses shift from viewing assurance as a cost centre to a strategic differentiator, the five acquisitions aim to position the company as an indispensable partner in managing risk across people, planet and performance. For more information on LRQA’s global risk management solutions, visit www.lrqa.com.
