Consultant says figures are in line with expectations despite a slowdown on the water engineering side

Engineering giant Atkins said revenues for the first quarter of the year were broadly level with last year's take, despite a 鈥渟ignificant鈥 slowdown in its water engineering business.

The 拢1.5bn annual turnover firm said in an interim management statement it had begun the financial year 鈥渋n line with expectations鈥 overall, despite the fall in water engineering income and the continuing 鈥渟oft鈥 nature of the UK design market overall.

The 18,000-strong firm said it had reduced headcount 鈥渁ccordingly鈥 but did not give figures, having already laid off 1,200 staff last year.

Atkins said its energy, highways and transportation and rail businesses had all started the year 鈥渨ell鈥, despite the loss of a major contract with Network Rail.

Conditions in the Middle East remain 鈥渃hallenging鈥, it said, although it has started receiving payment for some jobs.

The statement said: 鈥淲e continue to be well placed to navigate through challenging conditions in a number of our markets and the overall outlook for the group remains unchanged.鈥