The takeover will create one of the country’s strongest and broadest multidisciplinary engineering and consultancy groups with around 1,000 staff.

Gifford brings expertise in transport and marine, and environmental work while Ramboll’s UK business boasts a strong track record in commercial building.

In the UK, both consultancy businesses bring in around £35m in fees.

Ramboll’s UK managing director Charles McBeath, said: “If we had designed a perfect fit, we could not have achieved better than this.”

“The synergy between the two organisations is uncanny – client base, people, skills, disciplines, approaches and expertise all complement each other.

“Ramboll in the UK is traditionally strong in the private sector and Gifford has an established reputation in the public sector.  Even office locations around the UK balance really well.”

He added: “Joining Ramboll not only reinforces existing values, it provides the financial strength and global knowledge base to help companies develop.”

Wordlwide the Ramboll group, which is 90% owned by a trust, employs 9000 staff out of 200 offices in 20 countries. Last year it delivered a 40% rise in profits on revenue of 810m euros.

Both firms are presently working together of the preferred design team for the Forth Replacement Crossing.