Atkins is boosting staff numbers again to cope with demand experienced since April.

The firm said: “The positive momentum we experienced in the UK at the end of the previous financial year has continued through the first quarter.

“Specifically, our rail business remains particularly busy and we have continued to grow headcount during the period.

“Elsewhere our water and environment business has been successful in securing a place on the Environment Agency’s water and environmental management (WEM) framework as part of a consortium, with Atkins as the design partner.

“This contract award, together with Thames Water’s Alliance contract already announced and now mobilised, further increases the resilience of our UK water business and reduces dependence on the AMP investment cycle.”

Hyder added: “In the UK results were ahead of plan and of the prior year, with the transport business performing well in the period.”