News analysis

The industry’s latest deals find PE-backed firms based in the UK – including APEM, ERM and SLR – dominating the international charge, with RSK securing a further round of strategic investment to boost its global growth and market position.

Environment Analyst’s Top 100 report reveals the latest trends and movements in the global ranking of environmental and sustainability (E&S) consultancy businesses, and shows that the industry remains fragmented with top slots held by majors WSP, AECOM, Tetra Tech and Jacobs.

Latest acquisition adds expertise in technologies for water resources management.

Cofounder and chief executive Alan Ryder talks exclusively to EA, revealing how RSK's multitudinous M&A, focused investments in people and tech, and an overarching strategy aligned to the UN SDGs, are set to propel the firm to the next dimension.   

Strategic growth plans are based on the UN SDGs, with ambitions to quadruple revenue to £5bn by 2030, continuing a prolific M&A campaign. The firm seeks new investors and partners.

Flurry of industry M&A to end the year

EA’s latest industry data and research report reveals emergence of the sector's own ‘big four’ as environmental & sustainability consulting market sees record M&A activity and solid post-COVID recovery. 

WSP’s agreement to purchase RPS will further Canadian-based firm’s ambition to become the premier global environmental & sustainability consultancy, with 23,000 experts worldwide.

RSK, SLR and Ricardo among the latest international consultancies to shun Russian business and offer assistance to staff in the impacted region

Record revenue and profits for the Cheshire, UK headquartered outfit as pro-forma revenues surpass half a billion pound mark

As companies investigate their scope 3 carbon emissions, they also have the opportunity to investigate the biodiversity impacts of their value chains. Yet only 12% of FTSE100 companies report any supply chain audit on biodiversity

British consultancy plan further expansion in Australia through M&A activity, following its purchase of EDP earlier this year

RSK launches new subsidiary as a Binnies and Salix Joint venture

RSK set to become a major M&A powerhouse in the global environmental services space following its £1bn ($1.4bn) refinancing deal with Ares Capital

UK environmental services group adds four more companies to fold

Sector hits all-time high of £1.9bn in 2019 before pandemic forces decline last year; Jacobs confirmed new market leader, then RSK, WSP, AECOM and RPS; demand for climate change & energy services surges as net zero and climate resilience efforts ramp up

Environment Analyst talks business resilience in the pandemic year; international opportunities and megatrends with RSK’s CEO and founder Alan Ryder.

RSK’s CEO and founder Alan Ryder discusses buy and build strategies, the challenges of integrating acquisitions, collegiate operating structures and the purchase of Binnies

The purchase of Black & Veatch’s 1,200-strong UK and Asia water business – including a sizeable environmental consultancy unit – is RSK’s largest and most transformational acquisition to date; revives the Binnies brand name

UK-headquartered environmental, engineering and technical services firm RSK has launched a new arm, RSK Environment Switzerland, in a continuation of its global expansion programme.

RSK, the UK-headquartered environmental, engineering and technical services consultancy, has secured registration with the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) of Tanzania, making it one of the small group of companies certified to...

Environmental consultants may be less affected by Brexit transition than other business sectors. Will Hatchett, explains why

Rewilding and habitat creation business demonstrates the UK player’s strategic intent

Acquisition juggernaut rolls on as UK environmental firm bolsters European presence with ninth purchase of the year

British environmental and engineering services firm RSK has acquired the Water Research Centre Ltd (WRc) along with its subsidiary Cognica.

RSK launches CAN Renewables to target wind and solar infrastructure opportunities

RSK wants to "invest in market segments less likely to be negatively affected by COVID-19"

Much of the corporate communications in response to the latest COVID-19 outbreak is rightly centred on the gargantuan global health and economic challenges it poses. But some of the businesses operating in the environmental services space have the...

The climate crisis was centre stage at IP Week 2020, where senior O&G industry leaders, advisers and stakeholders gathered to share the latest critical thinking and actions to address the net-zero revolution

Acquisitive British environmental firm makes first M&A play of the year with 30-strong Salix.