In the 1980s, with the evolution of privatisation and outsourcing in the UK, Mouchel moved into advising local authorities on competitive tendering.

The first acquisition as a merged company took place in May 2005, when Mouchel Parkman bought mainline engineering and installation specialists ServiRail.

On 16 November 2006, it announced a trio of acquisitions worth a total value of £50 million – project management and organisational change specialist Hornagold and Hills,[8] water and utilities consultancy Ewan Group plc,[9] and software and system solutions company Traffic Support Limited (TSL).

The change was designed to be more inclusive of its expanded business outsourcing division, following the purchase of HBS, rather than being a traditional technical and engineering consultancy.

[11] Mouchel's first acquisition as a rebranded company was that of UK public sector management consultant Hedra, for £50 million in March 2008.

Operations included highways, water, property, housing, education, management consultancy and 'business process outsourcing' in a wide range of disciplines.

Mouchel's education business provides services for individual schools, groups of schools and local authorities, as well as local authority support for the UK government's 'Every Child Matters' agenda, which seeks to improve the outcomes for children.

In October 2007 its 50:50 joint venture with Babcock – mpb education – was named preferred bidder by the London Borough of Hackney to deliver its £167 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Mouchel's international business employs around 420 professional staff and is primarily based in the Middle East, with two offices in Dubai and one in both Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

The business also includes a division called LandAspects, which provides geographic information systems, topographic surveys, web-based applications and compulsory purchase services.

The sectors it is involved with include defence, law and order, schools, health, waste, social housing, nuclear, roads and rail.

According to New Civil Engineer magazine's Consultants File 2008, Mouchel is the largest provider of facilities management in the UK.

With UK local government moving towards larger contracts over longer periods of time covering a broad range of activities, Mouchel has established a number of 'strategic partnerships' with the councils of Liverpool, Knowsley, Oldham and Rochdale.