Up to 600 staff at Arup could lose their jobs as public sector projects are cancelled

On Monday the engineering giant told staff it was beginning a 90-day consultation that “may affect up to 600 employees”.

A spokesperson said the decision was taken in the light of public sector projects being cancelled or put on hold.

The company said: “We continue to operate in a period of uncertainty in the economy.

“Arup - like any responsible business - needs to ensure its long-term business health, which means that it is essential that we match our resources to our current and anticipated workload.”

The firm said it had been hit by a weak market and the cuts in government expenditure.