Northern Ireland engineering consultancy AM Consulting Engineers has acquired UK-based civil and structural engineering firm Bridges Pound Ltd. The move, advised by Turley Legal, doubles the group’s workforce to 40 employees and further strengthens its engineering capability, while also broadening its market reach across the UK.
The deal follows AM Consulting Engineers’ recent move to new headquarters at Jennymount Business Park, Belfast, as part of plans to increase staff numbers in the city over the next year, alongside further expansion of its Cork office.
Established in 2021 as a specialist civil engineering consultancy, AM Consulting Engineers, was the first company to complete Invest NI’s (INI) Ambition to Grow Programme in 2023, creating six new jobs and developing an export plan.
Since then, it has rapidly expanded its service offering to include structural and geotechnical engineering, working across the water, wastewater, transportation, building, and broader infrastructure sectors. Last year, the firm announced a £1.3m investment to support sales growth in the Middle East with backing from Invest NI’s Export Growth Programme and participated in the INI Middle East Trade Mission. The company will also be attending next month’s World Water Tech Innovation Summit in London as a guest of INI.
Coventry-based Bridges Pound Limited, in operation for over 40 years, works nationwide for a mixed client base of developers, contractors, and local authorities. AM Consulting Engineers believes the acquisition of Bridges Pound, with the resulting synergies and complementary skill sets, will accelerate growth across the GB market and bring additional benefits to existing clients. It will also broaden its sector expertise by adding hotel, education, and major infrastructure projects to its portfolio.
Recent high-profile projects undertaken by AM Consulting Engineers include supporting BAM UK & Ireland on the cross-border £84m Narrow Water Bridge project with specialist temporary work solutions; acting as structural engineer on the restoration of the Grade A-listed Clarence Chambers Building on Belfast’s Donegall Square East into Margot Belfast; and working with Coffey on the Terryland Water Treatment Plant on the River Corrib, safeguarding Galway City’s drinking water supply. Major redevelopment schemes supported by Bridges Pound have included the £124m University of Warwick campus programme with Willmott Dixon and significant £50m+ redevelopments in Central London, including St James’s St and at Regents Wharf.
Speaking about the strategic acquisition, Managing Director of AM Consulting Engineers, Aidan McCarthy, said: “From the outset, AM Consulting Engineers has been focused on delivering technical excellence and ambitious, practical solutions for our clients. This acquisition represents a significant milestone in our growth journey, strengthening our civil, structural, and geotechnical capabilities while accelerating our expansion across the Great Britain market.
“The addition of Bridges Pound’s highly respected team and established project portfolio enhances the depth of expertise we can offer our clients, particularly across complex infrastructure, education, and building projects. Having recently relocated to our new Belfast headquarters and with continued investment in our Cork operations, this move reinforces our commitment to technical excellence, sustainable growth, job creation, and export-led development. We are excited about the opportunities this creates for our clients and our people as we continue to support critical infrastructure investment across Northern Ireland, Ireland, GB, and beyond.”
Stuart Heaton, Managing Director of Bridges Pound Limited, added: “This is exciting news and is a strong endorsement of the expertise and reputation that the Bridges Pound team has built over 41 years. With civil engineering expected to enjoy a period of high growth over the next ten years, this investment is coming at the right time for the talented workforces in both companies, bringing complementary skills together. By joining forces with an ambitious firm like AM Consulting Engineers, which has quickly built a solid reputation for technical excellence and ingenuity, we will develop our existing collaborations, look ahead to future growth, and continue to deliver the high-quality service that Bridges Pound clients expect. This marks the start of an exciting time for both companies as we build further on the expert client-focussed consultancy we are known for.”
Further information on AM Consulting Engineers can be found online at www.amceltd.com