Investors Schroders and Henderson thought to be pushing for sale to a bigger firm

Investors in engineering consultant WSP Group are urging the firm to put itself up for sale, the Sunday Times has reported.

City sources told the newspaper investors in the firm – including Schroders and Henderson – were pushing for a sale due to concerns it lacked the scale to compete with American rivals.

WSP Group turned over £713.3m in the year ended 31 December 2011, making a pre-tax profit of £18.9m.

It provides engineering and property consultancy services and has offices in 27 countries around the world.

The firm has worked on a range of high profile projects in the UK, including London’s Shard skyscraper and the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham.

WSP Group declined to comment.