Southwark Crown Court today sentenced the firm, ordering it to pay a £1.4m fine and a further £851,152 confiscation fee, judged to be the benefit derived from illegal payments.

Sweett was accused of paying bribes to win contracts in the Middle East and pleaded guilty to the charges in December. It is the first company to be convicted under new UK bribery laws.

The consultant was also ordered to pay £95,000 to cover the prosecution’s legal costs.

Judge Beddoe said that Sweett Group had willfully ignored two KPMG reports in 2011 and 2014 flagging up weaknesses in the company’s systems and controls.

Douglas McCormick, CEO of Sweett Group said: “Sweett Group’s Middle East legacy issue is closed and this marks an important step in the delivery of the company’s new strategy.

“Over the last year, the company has been transformed with the appointment of a new leadership team, which has successfully addressed key issues facing the business.”

He added: “We have strengthened our internal systems, controls and risk procedures, and refined our strategy, focusing on profitability and cash flow.”