Ramboll buys Gifford to create leading UK engineer

Ramboll has bought fellow engineer Gifford to create one of the biggest engineering consultants in the UK.

The move means that Ramboll UK is now the eleventh biggest UK engineer, rivalling Buro Happold in size, with almost 1,000 employees.

Gifford is largely based in the UK public sector, and Ramboll said that this would complement its private sector focus.

UK managing director Charles McBeath said: “If we had designed a perfect fit, we could not have achieved better than this. The synergy between the two organisations is uncanny – client base, people, skills, disciplines, approaches and expertise all complement each other.

“Ramboll in the UK is traditionally strong in the private sector and Gifford has an established reputation in the public sector. Even office locations around the UK balance really well,” he said.

Ramboll UK is the British part of Ramboll group, the Danish-based engineering group that has over 9,000 employees and a €810m turnover.

Gordon Clark, chairman of Gifford, said: “The passion and drive for excellence and the caring culture are alike in both organisations. Our track record, history and heritage have remarkable similarities. This is an exciting time to come together for both our staff and clients.”