About Benchmark Lead Consultants

Built on Experience.
Driven by Precision.

Who Is Behind Benchmark Lead Consultants?

A Decade of Senior-Led Construction Consultancy

Benchmark Lead Consultants is a UK construction and real estate consultancy founded by Mark Evans MBA CRE, FCMI in 2015, originally trading as The Project Consultant. Mark holds a Master of Business Administration in Construction and Real Estate from the University College of Estate Management (UCEM) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI). With over a decade of hands-on project delivery, he has built a track record that spans some of the most demanding sectors in UK construction — from oncology treatment centres and specialist healthcare facilities to large-scale social housing programmes, student accommodation, assisted living developments, and commercial fit-outs.

Between 2015 and 2022, the practice established itself across social housing and housing association programmes, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), assisted living schemes, residential developments, and commercial office refurbishments (Cat A and Cat B fit-outs). During this period, Benchmark Lead Consultants delivered CDM Principal Designer, Employer's Agent, and Project Management services for local authorities, registered providers, and private developers throughout England and Wales — building the dual public-private sector fluency that now defines the practice.

Since 2022, Benchmark Lead Consultants has developed a specialist focus on healthcare construction and complex technical facilities. This includes project management and CDM Principal Designer services for LINAC vaults, proton therapy facilities, radiation protection bunker design, and oncology treatment centre delivery — environments where construction tolerances are measured in millimetres, radiation shielding must satisfy regulatory standards, and coordination between clinical equipment suppliers and building contractors is critical. This healthcare specialism, combined with deep experience in CDM Principal Designer and Employer's Agent roles under CDM 2015, positions Benchmark Lead Consultants at the intersection of technical complexity and regulatory compliance that few UK construction consultancies can match.

Mark Evans is also the founder of RwaLabs, a venture exploring real-world asset tokenisation through blockchain technology — reflecting the entrepreneurial mindset and forward-thinking approach that he brings to every construction consultancy engagement at Benchmark Lead Consultants.

In 2026, The Project Consultant rebranded to Benchmark Lead Consultants to better reflect the breadth, depth, and senior-led nature of the four core service disciplines we now deliver: Lead Consultant, CDM Principal Designer, Employer's Agent, and Project Management with NEC4/JCT Contract Administration. The name has changed. The standard has not.

Mark Evans — Director, Benchmark Lead Consultants
Mark Evans
Director, Benchmark Lead Consultants
MBA CRE (UCEM) · FCMI (Chartered Management Institute)
How Does Benchmark Lead Consultants Work?

Our Approach to Every Project

Every project Benchmark Lead Consultants takes on is led by the same four principles that have defined the practice from day one: senior-led delivery, compliance-first methodology, commercial awareness, and transparent communication.

Senior-Led Delivery

The person who wins the work delivers the work. At Benchmark Lead Consultants, you deal directly with Mark Evans MBA CRE, FCMI on every project — from first meeting to final account. There are no handoffs to junior staff and no diluted accountability. This senior-led model ensures consistent decision-making quality across the entire project lifecycle, which is why over a decade of client relationships have been built on repeat appointments.

Compliance-First Methodology

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Building Safety Act 2022, PAS2035:2019, and Procurement Act 2023 — at Benchmark Lead Consultants, regulatory compliance is not a box-ticking exercise. It is embedded into every stage of project delivery, from pre-construction information management through design coordination, construction phase monitoring, handover, and close-out. This compliance-first approach means fewer regulatory surprises, defensible audit trails, and projects that satisfy both internal governance and external scrutiny.

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Commercial Awareness

Benchmark Lead Consultants understands that every project decision has a cost implication. Whether administering contracts under NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract or JCT Design and Build 2016, our advice balances technical best practice with commercial reality — helping clients protect budgets, manage risk, and maintain quality and compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Transparent Communication

No jargon, no ambiguity, no surprises. Benchmark Lead Consultants provides clear, honest reporting and proactive communication at every project stage — so clients always know exactly where their project stands, what decisions need to be made, and what the cost and programme implications are. This transparency is particularly valued by public sector clients who require defensible audit trails and clear governance reporting.

What Sets Benchmark Lead Consultants Apart?

Why Clients Choose Us

Dual Sector Fluency

Benchmark Lead Consultants operates with equal confidence across the public and private sectors. From council procurement frameworks and Procurement Act 2023 compliance, housing association governance and registered provider requirements, to private developer commercial priorities and JCT Design and Build contract administration — we understand the rules, the language, and the expectations of both worlds. This dual fluency has been built over 10+ years of delivering construction consultancy for local authorities, housing associations, NHS trusts, and private developers across England and Wales.

Regulatory Expertise Across Construction Legislation

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Building Safety Act 2022, PAS2035:2019, Procurement Act 2023, NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, and JCT Design and Build 2016 — Benchmark Lead Consultants doesn't just understand the legislation, we apply it practically on every project. Compliance is embedded from day one of every appointment, not retrofitted at handover. This depth of regulatory knowledge is what allows us to act as CDM Principal Designer, Employer's Agent, and Lead Consultant on projects where multiple regulatory frameworks intersect.

Framework-Ready Documentation

Benchmark Lead Consultants holds the Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance, Public Liability (PL) insurance, documented track records, and quality management systems that framework agreements and competitive tenders under the Procurement Act 2023 require. Our tender documentation is procurement-ready at all times — compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 and structured to meet the selection criteria of major public sector frameworks.

Direct Senior Engagement

“The expertise you buy is the expertise you get. When you appoint Benchmark Lead Consultants, you work directly with me throughout the entire project lifecycle — from feasibility and procurement through construction, handover, and final account. No junior staff, no delegation after the pitch.”— Mark Evans MBA CRE, FCMI, Director, Benchmark Lead Consultants

This senior-led delivery model is central to how Benchmark Lead Consultants operates. It ensures continuity of decision-making, consistent quality, and a single accountable point of contact for every client across every project stage.

MBA CRE
Construction & Real Estate, University College of Estate Management (UCEM)
FCMI
Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute
NEC4 / JCT
Contract Administration under NEC4 and JCT Design and Build 2016
CDM 2015
Principal Designer under CDM Regulations 2015
Healthcare
Specialist expertise in oncology, LINAC vaults, proton therapy, and radiation protection

Benchmark Lead Consultants, a trading name of Evans Real Estate Consultants Ltd (Company No. 14338067), holds Professional Indemnity (£5m), Public & Product Liability (£5m), Employer's Liability (£10m), and Cyber Security (£100k) insurance underwritten by Hiscox (Policy Ref: PL-PSC10003760600/00).

Insurance schedules and certificates are available on request for framework and tender submissions.

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Ready to Set the Benchmark on Your Next Project?

Whether you need a CDM Principal Designer under CDM 2015, an Employer's Agent on JCT Design and Build contracts, a Lead Consultant, or full project management with NEC4/JCT contract administration — Benchmark Lead Consultants is ready to talk. Tell us about your project and we'll outline how we can help.

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Common Questions

About Benchmark Lead Consultants

Benchmark Lead Consultants was founded by Mark Evans MBA CRE, FCMI in 2015, originally trading as The Project Consultant. Mark holds a Master of Business Administration in Construction and Real Estate from the University College of Estate Management (UCEM) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI). He has over a decade of hands-on delivery experience across healthcare, social housing, education, and commercial construction projects in the UK.
Mark Evans holds an MBA in Construction and Real Estate (MBA CRE) from the University College of Estate Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI). He has specialist expertise in CDM 2015 Principal Designer, Employer's Agent (JCT Design and Build 2016), NEC4 Contract Administration, and healthcare construction including oncology and radiation therapy facilities.
The Project Consultant rebranded to Benchmark Lead Consultants in 2026 to better reflect the breadth and depth of services delivered — including Lead Consultant, CDM Principal Designer, Employer's Agent, and Project Management with NEC4/JCT Contract Administration. The rebrand aligned the brand identity with the senior-led, multi-disciplinary consultancy the practice had become.
Yes. Since 2022, Benchmark Lead Consultants has developed a specialist focus on healthcare construction and complex technical facilities, including LINAC vaults, proton therapy facilities, radiation protection bunker design, and oncology treatment centre delivery. This healthcare specialism is combined with CDM Principal Designer and project management expertise to deliver technically complex projects that require precise coordination between clinical equipment suppliers and building contractors.
Benchmark Lead Consultants is a trading name of Evans Real Estate Consultants Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 14338067). The practice is directed by Mark Evans MBA CRE, FCMI, who personally leads every client appointment and project delivery.