Atkins plc
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Categories: Companies established in 1938 | Business services companies of the United Kingdom | Construction and civil engineering companies of the United Kingdom | Engineering companies of the United Kingdom | International management consulting firms
Atkins is a professional services firm providing engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services. Formerly known as WS Atkins, it was founded in 1938 by Sir William Atkins. Atkins employs approximately 17000 staff based in 125 offices in 25 countries. Projects have been undertaken in more than 150 countries. In 2006-7, Atkins had an annual turnover in excess of £1.6 billion (including Joint Ventures). Atkins is the largest engineering consultancy in the UK, the largest multi-disciplinary consultancy in Europe and the world's fifth largest global design firm [1]. The original company, WS Atkins & Partners, was established in 1938 by Sir William Atkins with offices in Westminster, London. In its early years the practice specialised in civil and structural engineering design work which expanded rapidly after the Second World War into specialist services in town planning, engineering sciences, architecture and project management. In 1996 WS Atkins was admitted to the London Stock Exchange and began trading as WS Atkins plc. Since that time, the group has acquired a number of companies, including Faithful+Gould, a cost and project management consultancy firm; Ventron Technology, a specialist process plant contractor; Lambert Smith Hampton, a major property and commercial agency; McCarthy's Consulting Engineers in the Republic of Ireland; Boward Computer Services; and Hanscomb Inc in May 2002. More recent acquisitions have included oil and gas services engineers MSL Engineering Limited and MSL Services Corp; and Swedish masterplanning and design practice Novaplan AB. In early 2007, Atkins announced and since completed a sale of Lambert Smith Hambert. Atkins is divided into seven business segments: Highways and Transportation; Rail; Design and Engineering Solutions; China; Middle East; Management and Project Services; Asset Management and Equity Investments.
Business SectorsHighways and TransportationAtkins is the UK’s largest provider of highway and transport solutions [2]. Services include: transport planning studies and advice; design and site supervision activities; and network management and maintenance. Principal clients include the Highways Agency and local authorities in the UK. Design and Engineering SolutionsDesign and Engineering Solutions client sectors include water & environment, energy (incorporating oil & gas, nuclear and power), defence, aviation and airports, among others. China and the Middle EastIn China, Atkins focuses on urban planning and design and architecture services. In the Middle East, Atkins provides services such as highways, rail and oil & gas in the Gulf Co-operation Council countries and beyond. Atkins has global design capability in both the Middle East and India. RailAtkins is the largest UK based international rail consultancy and provide rail engineering services predominantly to the UK market [3]. Atkins Rail also operate in Scandinavia and the Far East, specifically in signalling; telecommunications; electrification and plan;, civils and rolling stock. Atkins also provides specialist services to the rail industry in the areas of property, transport planning, environmental management, human factors and asset management. Atkins are providing design programme management and detailed design services for the Dubai Metro and geotechnical and tunnelling services for the Gautrain Link in South Africa. Management and Project ServicesManagement and Project Services encompasses a range of activities delivering project, cost and programme management, IT and management consultancy in both the public and private sector. Faithful+Gould is the world's second largest project and cost consultancy operating in the transport property and industry sectors [4]. Management Consultants provide management and IT consultancy services including: programme and project management; change management; performance improvement; strategy and planning and IT solutions. Asset ManagementAtkins provides independent facilities management services to the public and private sectors focusing on niche markets such as the UK Ministry of Defence and private sector clients. Equity InvestmentsThe equity investments segment comprises Lambert Smith Hampton and the Group’s interest in PPP/PFI joint ventures.Lambert Smith Hampton is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atkins and provides commercial property services. Activities include commercial agency and investment advice; valuation services; landlord and tenant advice; property management and building surveying. Atkins also holds equity investments in a series of joint ventures. The largest of these was Metronet, which is contracted with London Underground Limited for the repairs, refurbishment and modernisation of two thirds of the London Underground network. Atkins also look after barclays, hbos, regent inns, whsmiths and north yorkshire fire and rescue. See alsoReferences
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