Hulme, who has been with Eric Wright since 2000, was promoted from operations director, a role he’s held since 2016.

A Chartered Civil Engineer, he brings nearly 30 years’ industry experience to the top job.

Diane Bourne, who joined the group in 1995, will remain as group technical director.

The civils division currently employs over 60 staff and is riding high with a strong order book stretching well into 2026.

Hulme said: “Thanks to Diane’s leadership, the company is in an excellent position with one of its strongest workloads.

“We have ambitious plans to build on existing relationships and seek out new clients where we can bring real added value.

“Our recent projects prove we can handle technical challenges and still deliver strong outcomes for communities. We’ll continue to focus on innovation, sustainability and social value.”