Last updated 30th July 2022
AECOM
AECOM is the UK and Ireland business of AECOM Technology Corporation, a leading global provider of integrated professional technical and management support services.
With offices across the UK, the company’s main business is consulting engineering and building and civils design, transport planning, facilities and asset management, transport infrastructure, planning, design and development and environmental waste.
Previously known in the UK as Faber Maunsell, the firm rebranded in 2009 when it adopted the name of its US parent company AECOM. The group made a significant UK expansion in October 2010 with the acquisition of Davis Langdon LLP, which has since been integrated. The $4 billion acquisition of a rival engineering group, San Francisco-based URS in October 2014, has expanded its presence in key markets such as oil & gas, power and government services.
Today, the UK business has an annual turnover of around £450 million and employs some 3,800 staff, down 7% in 2021. Major UK projects where the firm has worked include BBC Broadcasting House, London Gateway port and the Braid Burn flood prevention scheme in Edinburgh. The firm worked widely on London’s new Elizabeth Line on route selection and preliminary and detailed design. Aecom has also been the technical advisor for the annual Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens for the past decade.
The firm has also been leading a consortium developing the Legacy Communities Scheme for the Olympic Park and has been retained on the Palace of Westminster’s restoration programme.
The Los Angeles-based parent group, Aecom, is a $13.3 bn-turnover global provider of professional, technical and management support services, across a wide range of sectors with over 50,000 employees. It was ranked number one in Engineering News-Record’s 2020 “Top 200 Environmental Firms” ranking. Colin Wood is CEO of the group”s UK and Ireland operation.
According to its latest annual report, growth for Aecom in the UK in 2022 is expected from local and overseas opportunities and from larger projects won with Aecom worldwide. The firm is also committed to driving down costs and improving efficiency.
Financials
To view the financials for AECOM Ltd, visit Companies House and use Company ID 01846493.
Aecom UK reported a 6% fall in turnover to £450.2 million in the year to 1 October 2021 from £481.1 million previously as the firm focused on consolidation and maximising profitability. Underlying profits (ebitda) leapt to £28.74 million from £7.7 million previously. Similarly, pre-tax profits rose to £20.6 million from £6.0 million previously. Turnover per technical staff member was little-changed at £132,000.
UK and Ireland
The group’s services cover a wide range of disciplines, including architecture; building engineering; design + planning; design build; economics; energy; environment; government; oil + gas; program, cost, consultancy; programme management; transportation and water.
AECOM’s structure provides a flexible platform to pursue a wide range of projects and market sectors and draws on global experience to deliver local solutions. It also has the ability to take on complex, multidisciplinary projects. The firm acted on the Mersey Gateway Bridge and the new Science and Health Building at Coventry University .
More recently, Aecom UK has won places on over 30 Lots on TfL’s Engineering Consultancy Framework expanding its services to support maintenance, improvements and upgrades to the London network.
In July 2022, Aecom was appointed to all of the seven lots which it bid for on National Grid’s Design and Project Services Framework, set to be worth £180 million and involving HV substation, cable and HVDC experience along with infrastructure project and programme management.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Moore has recently been appointed head of project, programme and cost management in the North, responsible for the business in the region including Manchester and with a focus on growth in Birmingham and the Midlands. He was previously with Arcadis.
Aecom delivered the concept design and outline business case for the new Birmingham bus rapid transit corridor linking the city with Walsall and where the £88m first phase was recently completed. Elsewhere in the transport sector, Aecom designed the recently unveiled new Stanford-le-Hope commuter railway station in Essex.
In summer 2022, Aecom was named as the design team for the Royal Courts of Justice building service upgrade project by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. The firm has worked widely on building projects for HM Courts & Tribunals Service in England and Wales.
Earlier in 2022, Aecom renewed its place on the Southern Coastal Group and SCOPAC Coastal, Flood and Infrastructure Professional Services Framework. It has been working with four south coast councils on coastal issues since 2012.
Meanwhile in the commercial sector, Aecom was appointed in spring 2022 as lead designer for the redevelopment of a major City office scheme at 41 Tower Hill, adding a new rooftop level and some 200,000 sq ft to what is the former Societe Generale hq on the banks of the Thames.
Glenigan Data
Glenigan figures highlight Aecom”s involvement in major projects around the UK. The firm is the master planner on the £250 million Oriel-Health Infrastructure Plan involving the redevelopment of St Pancras Hospital where detailed plans have been granted and work is due to start in autumn 2022 and continue for 45 months (Project ID: 18203935). Meanwhile, Aecom is the project manager on British Land’s £67.8 million Canada Water Plot F residential and office scheme in London”s Docklands involving over 400 new homes and where work is due to start early in 2023 and run for 48 months (Project ID: 21188204).
Conclusion: leading UK consultancy with wide skills spread
Aecom’s international spread, strong parent company and longstanding reputation as a specialist consultant on transport and environmental development, reinforce its position as one of the leading consultancy groups in the UK. Its appointments to key national projects such as HS2, the Scape Group framework and the restoration of the Palace of Westminster, highlight its standing in the industry. Whilst its appointment to frameworks in the energy and water sector and strong position in education and health should ensure the group”s UK workload is sustained, the parent group”s international links are set to provide the UK business with more overseas opportunities. Meanwhile, the firm”s wide spread of skills particularly on infrastructure and transport projects, are likely to remain in demand.
Winning work with Aecom UK
Aecom recently launched a new initiative to develop collaborative connections with SMEs, employing fewer than 250 people and which make up around 80% of its suppliers. Clara Matty has taken up the role of SME Relationships Manager and an SME hub has been launched by the firm to encourage collaboration and with contacts. A page on the group’s website gives full details at:
https://aecom.com/uk/sme-partnerships-in-uk-and-ireland/
and an enquiry email address is available at sme.enquiry@aecom.com
Key Contacts
Clara Matty, SME Relationships Manager
Telephone 0207 061 7000
Scott Motley, AECOM Director and Initiative Sponsor,
Telephone 0207 061 7000