The acquisitions see RSK continuing to pursue its strategic aims of expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and in continental Europe, and broadening the breadth and depth of services offered in the UK to deliver end-to-end solutions in-house. 

Stephenson Halliday provides planning and landscape services to the development industry across the UK and Ireland. With offices in Kendal, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Wetherby as well as Wexford in Ireland, the 30-employee-strong business consists of a team of experienced planning and landscape directors, landscape architects, chartered planners, graphics specialists and practice managers, who provide effective and sustainable solutions to assist clients in realising their development aspirations.

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.

Ken Halliday said: “This acquisition comes at a hugely exciting time for Stephenson Halliday as we celebrate our 20th 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.”

Another UK acquisition sees RSK take on chartered surveyor Waldrams that provides rights-of-light advice and analysis and reports on daylight and sunlight for developments.

The business is based in London and has 20 years’ experience in the field, providing advice and state-of-the-art computer modelling and analysis. Its suite of services ranges from advising on issues such as rights-of-light risks on development sites to preparing daylight and sunlight reports for planning applications and overshadowing studies. Clients include Transport for London, Galliford Try and the University of Oxford. Managing director Michael Harper will continue to lead the business as it joins RSK’s environment and planning division.

Mr Harper noted: “Our specialist services are a great fit within the wider RSK group and I’m looking forward to connecting with new colleagues as we look for innovative ways to bring added value to our projects.”

The acquisitions also include German geotechnical consultants Althoff & Lang GbR and New Zealand risk management company Quality Solutions International Ltd (QSI).

Alan Ryder, RSK chief executive officer 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.”

Based on its current trajectory and strategy, the rapidly expanding group anticipates that by 2025 it will be delivering an annual turnover of £1 billion and will employ 10,000 people around the world. RSK is actively investing in the development of new businesses and bolt-on acquisitions, as well as equipment and facilities, to provide end-to-end solutions to a wide, international client base.