Will joins from Roger Bullivant where he managed piling works in Gibraltar, the Midlands and East Anglia and has been appointed to help Akela expand and grow its reputation in England.

An expert in driven piling techniques, Will has over two decades of experience in the specialist foundation industry, having also worked for Van Elle and Aarsleff.

Akela Ground Engineering operates in Scotland and the North of England and was founded in 2019. It is part of the Akela Group which is headquartered in Thornliebank, near Glasgow, and has an office in Leeds.

Will Payne, general manager of Akela Ground Engineering, said: “Akela is a family-oriented business that is looking to grow and expand its works across England and that is what attracted me to this role.

“They have also been investing heavily in new technology and innovation over the past year.

“I’ve worked in the UK and abroad within the specialist foundation industry and am very proud of my record in working with clients to find solutions at the most difficult of sites.

“It is important to build and establish relationships with clients and I am looking forward to working with existing Akela clients and also expanding Akela right across England.”

Mark Markey, managing director of Akela Group, said: “We are really proud to have Will Payne join the business at the crucial time of expanding our work in England. He is well known as a specialist in piling and will be a key part of growing our ground engineering arm.

“Importantly, he is experienced at managing complex works and ensuring quality work is carried out in a safe manner.

“He has decades of experience in the construction industry and his appointments will bolster Akela Ground Engineering and allow us to continue to go from strength to strength.”