Cuts see Atkins’ UK profits fall

WS Atkins, which has offices in Leeds, Sheffield and York, said the Government’s spending and strategic defence reviews were partly behind a seven per cent cut in UK staff numbers to 9,640 in the year to March 31.

But it reported underlying profit growth across the group as the weak UK performance was offset by strong showings in the Middle East and US.

Atkins posted a 7.5 per cent increase in underlying operating profits to £118.7m in the year, which excludes the cost of a recent US acquisition. UK operating profits fell to £61.4m from £77.3m.

WS Atkins said its outlook in the UK was stable, with its wide range of operations and sectors enabling it to weather short-term pressures. It added: “Work in hand is broadly consistent with the same time last year and we enter the new financial year with confidence in our ability to navigate what remains a difficult market.”