AtkinsRealis

AtkinsRealis is one of the world's leading engineering and design consultancies*, employing some 17,420 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. It has the breadth and depth of expertise to plan, design and enable some of the world's most technically challenging and time critical infrastructure projects.

AtkinsRealis is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Other recent UK projects include Crossrail, the Thanet offshore wind park and the redesign of London’s Oxford Circus to address pedestrian crowding.

Atkins was named among The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For 2011, won Consultancy of the Year in the CIBSE Low Carbon Performance Awards 2010 and was included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2011.

*Largest engineering consultancy in the UK (New Civil Engineer Consultants File 2012) and 13th largest global design firm (Engineering News-Record 2011).

What areas will you focus recruiting on over the next five years and why?

We recruit across a wide range of engineering disciplines. This includes: systems, structural, signalling, safety, mechanical, geotechnical, electrical, electronic, civil, chemical and aviation. We are involved in such a range of engineering projects that we need to ensure expertise across this broad range of skill sets.

How has EngineeringUK helped your understanding of the education and skills agenda in the UK?

a) Through providing the structure to bring interested bodies together, effectively co-ordinating activity, focussing influence;

b) By building a local and national profile through events such as The Big Bang; exposing people to what Engineering is all about, e.g. BBC newsworthy interventions, informing thousands of young people and society generally.

c) Through the quality and quantity of promotional literature. In particular the State of Engineering report provides us with a valuable compendium of data that informs our strategy, for example in recruitment.

By providing the opportunity to network with other Engineering companies and thereby understand common issues for the industry, membership of EngineeringUK has afforded Atkins the opportunity to access and influence national policy and communications.