Water company swallowed by engineering consultancy

ENGINEERING and consulting company Ricardo has acquired a water sector specialist in an undisclosed deal.

The plc, which has an operation in Leamington Spa, has acquired Manchester-based Cascade Consulting Holdings, an environmental consultancy specialising in the UK water sector.

The acquisition follows the collaboration with Cascade Consulting that began in February and Ricardo says it will bring additional capability and reach in the areas of water resource and water quality management, ecosystem services and environmental impact assessment.

It says the acquisition is in-line with its strategy of developing its reach into sectors associated with water and other scarce resources.

Cascade Consulting is said to have strong relationships with the country’s water companies as well as government departments and regulators.

The company has particular expertise in the areas of water resource management, catchment management, water quality, water treatment, flooding and coastal management, and environmental impact assessment.  

Cascade Consulting will combine with Ricardo’s existing environmental consulting arm within Ricardo-AEA and will operate as the core of a new water practice.

The Cascade business has 34 employees and generates approximately £3m in annual revenues.

Chief executive Dave Shenmans of Ricardo said: “Cascade Consulting has an established market reputation and when combined together with Ricardo-AEA will enable the Ricardo business to start to deliver on its strategic growth objectives within the water sector both in the UK and internationally.”