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Atkins UK and Europe division has posted a 32% jump in operating profit in its half-year results despite a dip in revenue.

In the six months to September, Atkins鈥� UK and Europe division posted an operating profit of 拢39.4m, up 32% from 拢29.8m the previous year.

The division鈥檚 revenue dropped 1.6% to 拢451.2m, down from 拢458.7m the previous year, while its staff headcount at 30 September also fell 6% from 9,865 to 9,274.

The firm said delays and cancellations to Network Rail鈥檚 signalling programme had resulted in 鈥渞esource reductions鈥漛ut added that the infrastructure client鈥檚 electrification programme and Crossrail 鈥渞emain healthy鈥�.

But it said the government鈥檚 鈥渃ontinued commitment to infrastructure investment鈥� has resulted in 鈥済enerally strong markets鈥� and added that the EU Referendum result has had 鈥渕inimal impact鈥� on its business.

Atkins subsidiary Faithful+Gould had a 鈥渟uccessful鈥� first-half, it said, with revenue slightly higher than in the prior year.

It said F+G鈥檚 growth was primarily in project management services in the South East after being appointed to the Pagabo public sector framework along with its pipeline of work in education, local government and the planned new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

Overall, Atkins posted a 14% jump in pre-tax profit to 拢63.6m, up from 拢55.8m, while revenue increased 10% to 拢994.7m, up from 拢904.6m.

Underlying operating profit 鈥� which strips out finance and exceptional costs 鈥� increased 10.7% to 拢65.3m, up from 拢59m. Overall staff numbers dropped 1.5% to 18,339 from 18,609.

Commenting on the results, Atkins chief executive Uwe Krueger (pictured) said: 鈥淒espite challenges in some markets, we have delivered good underlying profitability and the near term outlook in our UK and North American businesses is particularly positive.

鈥淲e are confident that our focus on differentiation in nuclear, digital innovation and advisory will deliver further growth over the longer term. Our outlook for the full year is unchanged.鈥�