Atkins delays pay review and axes 200 jobs

Consultant Atkins is axing more than 200 jobs from its Middle East operations and postponing the annual pay review for six months.

Keith Clarke, Atkins chief executive, wrote to staff warning that the turndown in Dubai had hit orders. He added that the Atkins group-wide pay review would also be postponed from April to October 2009.

He said: "With regret, roles will be made redundant in those parts of the group which are experiencing increasing uncertainty and worsening market conditions. Starting this week, 200 colleagues in the Middle East commenced redundancy consultation as a result of the recent decline in the Dubai building design business."

He added: "We will continue to recruit where needed, but will also ensure we are not recruiting externally when we have the skills available somewhere in the group."

Atkin said it would continue to invest in training to boost its skills in Carbon Critical Design.

Clarke said: "I believe that by acting decisively and firmly from our current position of strength that we will emerge stronger and better from these uncertain times."