WS Atkins says core markets remain 'robust'

WS Atkins, the design and consultancy group, has issued a quarterly statement, covering the three months to the end of December, saying that core markets remained robust while the group’s financial position is good.

“The performance of the group in the year to date has continued to be in line with expectations,” said Atkins.

As the end of the financial year moves closer, the group plans to issue a pre-close trading statement on 16 April.

In the latest Q3 (third quarter of the financial year) interim management statement today, Atkins looked at its various businesses:

• design and engineering solutions – performing well, now preferred bidder for Birmingham New Street station and contracts won on Airbus A380 and A330F aircrafts
• rail – recovery in line with expectation, confirmed by formal award on re-signalling project at Rugby and Nuneaton
  highways and transportation – won contract for the design of the A14 widening scheme in Cambridgeshire
• Middle East – strong growth in Abu Dhabi
• management and project services – the Management Consultants business has been impacted by a poor start to the year, improvement unlikely until after the fourth quarter.

Overall, Atkins said that its forward workload remains strong.