RSK Group has made a splash in the water industry with new company RSK Water.

Operating from three regional bases - Cirencester, Glasgow and Derby - the company's network of engineers, scientists and project managers offer a comprehensive range of innovative, water industry-specific consultancy services, all of which are complemented by RSK Group's vast environmental capabilities.

The formation of RSK Water is the latest move in an RSK Group expansion drive that, since December 2006, has seen an increase in staff numbers by a dramatic 156% to 950 and a doubling of its turnover potential through ten strategic acquisitions and the start-up of six new companies.

Its stated ambition is to become one of the water industry's leading players has already got off to a flying start with the recruitment of two known high-flying and pre-eminent industry experts.

Ruth Allen - former chief executive of leading water industry consultancy Ewan Group, director of the pioneering Water Research Centre (WRc), and who is a highly respected voice in the water industry - joined RSK Group in September to establish RSK Water.

After a formative period, she appointed fellow former Ewan Group director, Andrew Gunning, to the position of managing director of RSK Water in mid-April.

Both Allen and Gunning were highly influential in the Ewan Group's meteoric growth from a £2m to a £18m-business in just five years, before it was acquired by Mouchel in 2006.

Gunning comes well prepared for his new role, having most recently worked as Business Unit Manager director  for Mouchel, managing 235 staff across five business units in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England.  Further evidence of his leadership abilities lies in his Institute of Directors' chartered diploma - a qualification held by less than 1% of the UK's one million company directors.

Allen - who has since taken on the role of director responsible for all RSK Group companies pertaining to the environment and planning - will continue as RSK Water's sales director. She has also been appointed as chief executive of nascent company RSK Strategic Solutions, which offers high-level strategy and policy consultancy (which would be applicable to the water sector).

RSK Group chairman Dr. Alan Ryder said:

"With the formation of RSK Water, we are re-enforcing our commitment to the challenges faced by the water industry both in the UK and worldwide. I believe that the creation of this new company will enable us to make an effective contribution within the sector and attract some of the country's leading water and environmental experts."

Ruth Allen said:

"Water is such a huge environmental and political issue. RSK's growth and natural progression is now to move at greater pace into the water sector and commit its considerable resources to tackling some of the weightier problems we currently face in the UK.

"We're in a fantastic position to work on anything from watercourse management, to advising on the environmental and carbon implications of large capital investments. Existing expertise is rapidly being bolstered by a proactive recruitment drive, and the teams are growing fast and are keen."

"Andrew Gunning's appointment demonstrates how seriously RSK is committed to the water sector. He brings with him a huge wealth of expertise, experience, personal contacts and all-round industry knowledge."

Andrew Gunning said:

"We have the expertise and drive - and it's clear there are challenges at many levels for the sector to overcome, not least the rigours of the Water Framework Directive and environmental and climate issues. Our task is to work with water companies to provide solutions. That's precisely what we're equipping ourselves to deliver". 

Notes for editors

For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact RSK Group media editor Neil Jaques (njaques@rsk.co.uk, 0141 332 8440/ 07917 425212).

High-resolution  images are available on request.

www.rsk.co.uk/water

  
About RSK Group

RSK Group is one of Europe's fastest growing environmental consultancies with 950 staff across 46 strategic locations in the UK, Europe, the Gulf and Caspian regions. RSK offers clients a one-stop shop for environmental services and a peerless dedication to best practice (RSK remains one of the few companies of its kind to have achieved certification to the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards for quality, environmental and health and safety management). www.rsk.co.uk