Cundall Johnston and Partners sets up acoustics division

Dec 13 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

ENGINEERING consultant Cundall Johnston and Partners has set up an acoustics division as its strategic move to expand upon the range of services it offers develops further.

The Newcastle-based international firm has added options such as IT services, planning and lighting in the last few years.

The company said this diversification continues a strategy laid down several years ago, and it plans to add more services in future if appropriate.

The firm employs more than 450 staff in total, 100 of which are based in the North East.

Partner Gordon Reid said: “In the last few years, we’ve added services such as planning, lighting and geotechnical services. I think there’s still a place for single discipline business, but we think there are advantages to our approach because it’s easier to set up for the client and for co-ordination on our side of things.

“The market is certainly tough at the moment, but the strategy for increasing our skill base was a decision that was taken a few years ago.”

The company’s focus on sustainability – which includes home energy challenges to encourage employees to reduce energy and an increasing focus on reducing travel in favour of videoconferencing – won it the nebusiness award this year for Corporate Social Responsibility and Environment.

It also picked up the Sustainable Consultant of the Year award at the 2010 Building Sustainability Awards last week.

Anderson said: “Sustainability is important not just from a global perspective but also to our clients on a financial level. Energy is an increasingly expensive commodity.”