Lead with Clarity. Build for the Future.
Emerald Tide Consulting
Strategic Advisory for Infrastructure, Energy & Defence Innovation
About Emerald Tide Consulting
Emerald Tide Consulting delivers high-trust, high-impact strategic support for organisations navigating infrastructure complexity, energy transition, site development, defence innovation and procurement.
Led by James, a Chartered Civil Engineer and former British Army Major, we combine military-grade leadership with deep technical and strategic expertise in the built enviroment and defence strategies. From feasibility to execution, we help our clients reduce risk, align stakeholders, and move forward with confidence - across public-private partnerships, government initiatives, and innovation-led development.
With experience spanning NATO, British Army HQ, DSTL, DE&S, DIO, through to main contractor delivery in Australia with John Holland and client-side development with Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, UK. We understand the demands of mission-critical programmes - and the need for clarity when the stakes are high.
Clients & Services
Who We Work With
We partner with leaders and teams delivering high-stakes, future-facing projects. Whether the challenge is technical, political, or environmental, we offer strategic clarity, embedded thinking, and operational calm. Each engagement is tailored. Below are the core markets we serve.
Defence & National Security Infrastructure
We support defence clients navigating site transformation, estate optimisation, procurement and leadership alignment across complex stakeholder environments.
Focus areas:
- Site clearance, and development planning, with significant experience of MoD sites.
- Multi-lateral defence infrastructure procurement and interoperability advisory.
- Executive leadership for secure, long-term outcomes.
- Strategic alignment between military and civil partners.
Clean Energy & SMR Feasibility
We work with energy innovators and strategic site planners exploring clean energy integration, including demand-side generation using small modular reactors (SMRs) and smart energy systems.
Focus areas:
- 11kV electrical distribution networks, serving building clusters, incorporating smart grids integrating renewables and battery storage to maximise building ESG ratings and contracted loads.
- SMR viability studies to EN-7 and technical leadership.
- Stakeholder coordination and risk reduction.
- Integration with existing or planned infrastructure.
- Strategic roadmap development for regulatory engagement.
Public–Private Innovation Zones & Campuses
We advise on placemaking strategies for public–private campuses and science parks - where infrastructure meets innovation and long-term investment.
Focus areas:
- Site strategy and feasibility.
- Placemaking for built environment clusters, creating places people want to work; balancing commercial, retail, social and nature.
- Plot preperation and remediation.
- Cross-sector alignment (government, academia, private investors).
- Energy and utility planning with infrastructure scalability.
- Strategic frameworks for growth and resilience.
Government, Local Authority & Industry Partners
We support developers, contractors, councils, central government bodies, and public or private partners delivering infrastructure and the built environment to achieve occupiers requirements, planning directives and sustainability targets under pressure.
Focus areas:
- Strategic clarity in early-stage planning.
- Assisting client requirement setting, and ensuring through-project delivery.
- Resolution of technically challenging problems with pragmatic solutions.
- Infrastructure risk advisory.
- Policy-to-delivery support.
- Energy and sustainability integration.
Engineering & Infrastructure Contractors
We collaborate with delivery partners who need external advisory at the strategic planning or project assurance stage - especially on complex, regulated, or defence-linked projects.
Focus areas:
- Independent scoping or validation.
- Embedded leadership or interim strategic roles.
- Defence-standards communication and planning.
- Systems thinking support for high-complexity sites.
Start the conversation.
Whether you're exploring a strategic partnership, bespoke consulting support, or simply want to connect, leave us a message.
We’ll respond with care, clarity, and next steps.