Consultants

The Department for Transport (DfT) will reveal new cost and schedule ranges for phase 2a of HS2 in the coming weeks. An update from the National Audit Office (NAO) on the project’s progress, released today, revealed that the government is close to announcing costs and timings for the Birmingham-to-Crewe leg…

Aecom has appointed Metropolitan Police HR diversity and inclusion lead Rachel Billington as its new head of equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) in Europe. While at the London force, she delivered a number of initiatives including a women-returners programme and a bespoke parenting-support service, the consultancy said in a statement.…

Construction News has today launched an initiative designed to help firms in the sector become more welcoming to women. The Inspiring Women in Construction Pledge is a voluntary code that companies can adopt to demonstrate their determination to promote gender equality. As well as a public statement of intent, the…

Detailed ground investigations are due to begin this week at the site of a proposed £17.3m satellite launch project in the Scottish Highlands. Bam Nuttall and Arup will conduct the work on behalf of regional development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which plans to establish Space Hub Sutherland as…

Mace Consult has appointed former Atkins Energy programme director Andy Oldham as its business unit director for defence, nuclear, energy and utilities. A statement from the consultancy said his responsibilities will include “completely transforming the way Mace delivers infrastructure projects” and growing its work in the area. Oldham has joined…

The heads of the UK’s biggest engineering consultancies hosted a private dinner for Douglas Oakervee while he was carrying out the independent review into the future of HS2, Construction News has learned. The dinner, organised by the Association of Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), was hosted by Aecom at its offices…

Buro Happold has appointed current chief financial officer James Bruce as its chief executive. The new CEO has announced plans to double headcount at the consultancy from 2,000 to 4,000 employees over the next six years. Bruce, who has been with the firm since 2018, has worked as both chief…

Developers Peabody and Lendlease have awarded the masterplanning contract for their £8bn Thamesmead Waterfront project to a group led by consultants Arup and Prior & Partners. Peabody and Lendlease formed a joint venture to develop the 100-hectare riverside site in October 2019. Largely undeveloped, the South-East London location is expected…

Mace has been appointed by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to work on the site’s major infrastructure redevelopment programme. Facilities at the Aldermaston site near Reading in Berkshire are undergoing major changes as part of the UK’s renewal of its nuclear deterrent. AWE is responsible for disassembly and assembly of…

Aecom has pledged to halve its business travel in the coming years as it bids to reach a strict net-zero target by 2030. The consultant will also decarbonise its vehicle fleet, switch to renewable energy tariffs and consider carbon emissions when it chooses suppliers. A spokesperson for the company said:…