Atkins bouyed by Middle East operations

WS Atkins has announced that earnings performance for 2011 is expected to stay on track despite admitting that UK and other markets conditions remain challenging.

In an interim trading statement Chairman Allan Cook revealed that group results were buoyed by its Middle East operations, which showed an increased workload from the growing infrastructure market in the region.

 “The group has continued to navigate well through challenging market conditions in many of its markets.  As a result, the earnings performance for the six months to 30 September 2011 is anticipated to be in line with our expectations,” Cook said.

“Although overall economic conditions in the UK remain difficult, our business here continues to benefit from both the resilience of its diversified portfolio in a number of well-funded markets and its support for the group’s Middle East operations.”

Atkins’ North American consultancy business continued to perform well despite a poor start to the year by the group’s Peter Brown construction management business.

Cook also announced that the company had made progress in the core growth markets of nuclear, oil and gas and power.