‘We need more self belief’… Chris Ball of AtkinsRéalis explains how the industry can deliver the UK’s infrastructure ambitions

By Tom Lowe2026-01-30T07:00:00

Chris Ball President AtkinsRéalis UK Ireland

As the government’s 10-year strategy begins to unfold, the president of the UK and Ireland business of the UK’s largest construction consultant tells Tom Lowe what the sector needs to do to avoid some of the mistakes of the past

It is nearly two-and-a-half years since the global engineering giant SNC Lavalin rebranded as AtkinsRéalis. The £4bn group, based in Montreal, is the UK’s largest construction consultant, with 42 offices across the UK and Ireland.

It is a major player in the infrastructure sector and involved in the majority of the government’s long-term infrastructure projects spanning sectors including rail, power, water and highways. As a result, it is a company which plays an important role in how the UK’s infrastructure will function in the future – it has a voice deep into the heart of government. What it says matters.

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