Fairhurst swoops for engineering consultancy Sanderson

FAIRHURST has acquired Sanderson Associates, the Yorkshire-based highways and traffic consultants, in a deal which it said will offer the opportunity for “significant” expansion.

Sanderson Associates has been established for 30 years and employs 24 staff at its headquarters at Grange Moor, Huddersfield.

Ideally located midway between Leeds and Manchester, Sanderson Associates is well positioned to support the significant opportunities which are emerging both in the North Western and North Eastern regions, Fairhurst said, while also expanding its portfolio of work in London, the Home Counties and other areas of the country.

This acquisition increases the number of Fairhurst offices to 18 and staff numbers to 525, reinforcing its position as one of the largest privately owned partnerships of consulting engineers in the UK.

Both organisations will continue to retain their existing operations and brand identities.

Alison France, who continues as the managing director of Sanderson Associates, said: “In combining the two companies we are achieving a strong strategic fit which will enable us to expand both of our opportunities to work throughout the UK.

“Jointly we will be able to achieve further growth and opportunity, driven by the UK government ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda.  Both companies have an extremely strong complementing ethos in terms of client focus and both benefit from a background of private ownership.  Together we are far stronger and I am excited at the opportunities which lie ahead.”

Senior partner Ron Bryson said: “This acquisition creates fantastic opportunities for clients to benefit from the wide range of coordinated Engineering Design services and Planning & Development services which Fairhurst and Sanderson Associates are able to offer from a single Consultant source.  I fully expect even stronger demand for our specialist and expanded range of skills, to drive projects of all sizes and complexity through from inception to completion in a market that is becoming increasingly buoyant.”

Bob McCracken, Fairhurst chairman, added: “We are delighted to welcome Alison and her staff as part of the Fairhurst Group. The addition of Sanderson Associates complements our existing UK-wide geographic coverage and I am convinced that the synergy already established between our two organisations will form a solid base for successful integration going forward, with significant benefits to both clients and staff.”