Headquarters: Epsom, Surrey, UK.

WS Atkins International was founded in 1938 by William Atkins. It employs more than 12,000 personnel in 50 offices in the UK and 27 overseas centres spanning the US, Europe, East Asia, and South Asia.

The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996. It is owned 40 per cent by its staff, 50 per cent by institutional investors and 10 per cent by its founder shareholders' trust. At the end of fiscal 1998/99, Atkins was capitalised at £700 million, had turnover for the year of £426 million and posted pre-tax profits of £34.7 million.

Atkins has subsidiary companies in 14 countries. Its UK operating companies include WS Atkins Consultants, WS Atkins Facilities Management, Faithful & Gould, WS Atkins Planning & Management Consultants, WS Atkins Architects, WS Atkins Rail, Atmos, Lambert Smith Hampton Group.