CH2M HILL plans to capitalize on Halcrow engineering expertise to push into the United Kingdom (UK) by recruiting 170 engineers into its 600-strong UK-based water operation this year, NCE can reveal this week. The recruitment drive is to accompany its first aggressive move in the UK market since buying Halcrow in 2011. It is targeting the water sector, as utility companies this year begin engaging with the supply chain ahead of the next £20bn plus, 5-year spending cycle that begins in 2015.
CH2M HILL believes the combination of its traditional strength in program management and Halcrow’s strong pedigree in engineering design and modelling is particularly suited to the water sector’s next 5-year cycle. This is expected to focus on driving efficiencies into programs characterized by large numbers of small projects.
Companies like Thames Water are already engaging with the supply chain, and CH2M HILL water sector European Water Managing Director Helen Samuels hopes that the mix of skills in her company’s armory will help the firm win a hefty chunk of the work. “If you look at the water market generally, then I am cautiously optimistic,” said Samuels, speaking exclusively to NCE. “But from a CH2M HILL point of view, I am minded to be more bullish.”
Following the Halcrow takeover in 2011, CH2M HILL spent a year operating it as a stand-alone firm. It had since fully integrated the consultant within its 4,000-strong UK operation under the leadership of European managing director Mark Fallon. This integration was completed at the end of last year.
Samuels was at Halcrow before CH2M HILL took over, having joined the firm in 1999. Since 2011, she has been rebuilding her senior management team. “Halcrow has a very strong pedigree in water utilities; and on the CH2M HILL side, you have got the program management,” she said. CH2M HILL is currently program manager for Thames Water’s London Tideway Tunnels project. “So, bringing together the two organizations is quite exciting,” she said.
CH2M HILL also brings with it a global take on technology and innovation and has expertise in operating as a prime contractor, so Samuels believes UK water companies have much to gain from using the firm’s skills.
But to capitalize fully, CH2M HILL needs to boost numbers of skilled engineers. “We need a strong focus on people, and it is where we felt we need to put the investment,” said Samuels. She added that the focus will be on graduate recruitment. “We will be recruiting at least 5 percent of our water population every year as graduates or technicians, and it could be more than that,” she said. But, initially, numbers will be boosted by bringing in more experienced engineers. “I have 40 open vacancies right now; and in terms of overall numbers, I am looking at 170 new recruits over the year.”
She stressed that CH2M HILL’s main priority is its existing clients. This also means remaining focused on the UK right now. “Our loyalty is to our existing clients in the short term,” she said. “Over 90 percent of our business is in the UK, so our focus in the short term is to bring new ideas to existing clients and markets.”