Faithful & Gould plans to double its US workforce

Faithful & Gould has unveiled ambitious plans to nearly double its workforce in North America in the next five years.

The QS and project management firm, which employs around 500 staff in the US, is planning to build on its acquisition of US consultant Hanscomb, which was struck three years ago.

F&G director Donald Lawson said the firm saw huge potential in the area. He said: “Having 500 staff in the States is just a drop in the ocean.”

Lawson said that there was particular scope for growth due to the lack of dedicated QSs in the States.

He said: “QSing and cost management is predominantly done by contractors and architects over there. We think we can grow market share and embed ourselves more strongly into client organisations.”

Lawson said the firm would grow its existing offices in the main cities in the States such as Boston and New York rather than open new offices.

The firm’s US arm Hanscomb is working on major schemes in the US such as the planned redevelopment of the World Trade Centre. It is also branching out geographically, having secured a role on a £30m new football stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Lawson said the firm also saw potential in the Far East. He said: “We see places like Singapore as growing in line with the US operation.”

We think we can grow market share and embed ourselves more strongly into client organisations.

Donald Lawson, director, Faithful & Gould

Lawson said growth plans for the UK were more modest. He said: “We will look to grow there but not at the same rate. I’m not sure the market will stand that.”

Andy Speight, director and head of property at Faithful & Gould, said the firm was still actively recruiting in the UK.

He said: “For our five-year growth plan we are looking to take on 180 people over the next 12 months just to stand still, as we lose 12% of our 1400 UK staff every year.”

Speight said the firm was targeting school-leavers and would also look to buy smaller niche firms with perhaps 20-30 staff.

He said: “We are pursuing a growth strategy to satisfy shareholder requirements for the overall growth of the company by about 10%.”

Faithful & Gould parent firm Atkins, a multidisciplinary group which carries out everything from architecture to engineering and employs 14,000 staff, is due to post its results for the year to 31 March 2005 next Tuesday.