AJA was founded in 1994 by Adrian James, a physicist, acoustician and musician who had spent two years in research and ten years working for several leading acoustics consultancies in London. From the outset, the company was involved in a wide range of projects. The first few years saw us designing a conference centre in the Tower of London, co-ordinating expert evidence on noise for a House of Lords Select Committee, creating a sound system for a bullet-proof glass Royal Box in a concert hall, and computer modelling an 800-seat theatre for a cruise liner.
Initially based in London, AJA moved to Norwich in 1996. The company now employs ten full-time consultants and two administrators. We can also call on the services of distinguished associates in related fields including theatre consultancy, audiology and environmental science. We work from a purpose-built low-energy office building in a very pleasant rural location just outside Norwich. From here we work on projects throughout the UK, in mainland Europe and further afield.
In 2024 AJA became an employee ownership trust. All of the team benefit from common ownership and the directorial board is balanced with a board of trustees. Whilst aiming to stay at the top of our profession, we work collaboratively by sharing our expertise and experience. We have built up a significant body of clients, and people we have worked with before frequently recommend us to business colleagues.
Acoustics consultancy is not a protected profession in the UK and many people calling themselves acoustics consultants have no qualifications or professional affiliation. The Institute of Acoustics is the representative body for individuals working in any field of acoustics in the UK, and all of our acoustics consultants have the appropriate grade of IoA membership. The Association of Noise Consultants is the professional body for acoustics consultants and requires very high professional and ethical standards from its members. AJA is proud to have been a corporate member of the ANC since 2000.
Find out more about our accreditations and affiliations and associated professional bodies here.
