Cheshire-based RSK Group has acquired four businesses across the UK, Germany and New Zealand.
The integrated environmental, engineering and technical services business based in Helsby has acquired Cumbria-headquartered planning and landscaping services provider Stephenson Halliday Ltd, chartered surveyor Waldrams Ltd in London as well as German geotechnical consultants Althoff & Lang GbR and New Zealand risk management company Quality Solutions International Ltd (QSI).
The move comes after the group snapped up RSK Orbital, SkyVision International, The Scan Station and Smith + Kennedy Architects. last month.
Stephenson Halliday provides planning and landscape services to the development industry across the UK and Ireland.
With offices in Kendal, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wetherby and Wexford, Ireland, the 30-employee-strong business consists of a team of planning and landscape directors, landscape architects, chartered planners, graphics specialists and practice managers.
Founded in 2001, the multidisciplinary business works across the energy, infrastructure, minerals, waste and built and rural development sectors and provides professional services across four broad categories: planning; environmental impact assessment (EIA); landscape; and graphics.
The business will continue to be led by managing director Ken Halliday as it joins RSK’s growing environment and planning division, led by Sarah Mogford.
Alan Ryder, RSK chief executive and founder, said: "RSK has so many exciting things happening, with many more coming through the pipeline.
"The four businesses we are welcoming into the group today are markedly different in terms of service offering and the sectors in which they operate but they all share our group’s commitment to delivering progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
"These are undoubtedly our greatest business drivers, as now, more than ever before, societies around the world are ready for change.
"Welcoming Stephenson Halliday into our business greatly advances our position in the UK planning and landscape market, an area where we expect to see growth over the coming years, particularly in relation to renewable energy, and Waldrams strengthens our offer in the property sector, specifically in urban environments.
"QSI marks the start of our journey into New Zealand, where we will explore further opportunities for growth by introducing many more RSK services to the region and Althoff & Lang greatly advances our position in Germany, a region where we expect to see significant growth in the years to come."
Mr Halliday added: "This acquisition comes at a hugely exciting time for Stephenson Halliday as we celebrate our 20 th year in business. Building on our past success, I and the entire leadership team are looking forward to accelerating our growth plans over the coming years and exploring the exciting opportunities that will arise as part of the RSK group.
"As we have already worked successfully together on several projects, we are confident that this is the right fit for our business and could not wish for a better partner than RSK."
