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�

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