Industry update: new skills, new contracts, new recognition

WS Atkins has extended its service range with the £2M acquisition of Ventron Technology Ltd. Ventron is a process engineering design business concentrating primarily on the pharmaceutical and chemicals sector. The acquisition, says Atkins, will strengthen its skills in engineer/procure/construct contracts, a growing area of business.

WS Atkins has also been named preferred consultant for Cambridgeshire County Council's post year 2000 highways and transportation outsourcing contract. This represents about £7.5M in engineering services over five years.

AMEC managers have carried off two major prizes at the Chartered Institute of Building's 'building manager of the year' awards.

The gold medal went to Terry Price, responsible for managing the creation of almost 40,000sqm of automated warehousing for Boots with no lead-in time, following loss of existing facilities to fire. The bronze medal went to Peter Neale for managing refurbishment and extension of facilities at Heathrow while they remained fully operational.

Elliott Chase