Stantec expands UK footprint with ESI Consulting acquisition

Stantec is expanding operations in the UK through the acquisition of environmental firm ESI Consulting.

ESI Consulting specialises in groundwater, land and sustainable development, and has UK water company clients including Thames Water, United Utilities, and Severn Trent Water. The firm has 50 employees based across three UK offices, and broader project references spanning property, minerals and waste, energy, and transport and infrastructure, as well as water.

Its notable projects include developing a sophisticated groundwater model to assess the effects on groundwater of Sirius Minerals’ Woodsmith Potash Mine, near Whitby, UK.

ESI will add to Stantec’s existing UK operations, which largely comprise the former MWH UK and MWH Treatment, which were acquired as part of Stantec’s $795 million buyout of MWH Global in 2016.

“ESI brings experience and highly respected project work to complement our longstanding presence in the UK. Our combined teams will provide solutions, analysis and value for our clients in a range of industries,” said Stantec Europe, Africa and India managing director, Cath Schefer.

“We look forward to connecting to a larger network of technical support to expand our reach, and we appreciate that our talented team will be exposed to a global portfolio of projects and opportunities,” said ESI managing director, Jon Cooke.

Interview: Kati Bell, Stantec global reuse leader (March 2018)