Open menu Our legacy For the past eight decades, Atkins has helped to create lived environments that serve their communities. That’s a legacy to build upon. Breadcrumbs Home Our story Our legacy At the forefront of innovation, Atkins has shaped engineering and design for generations Whether it’s the London 2012 Olympics, the Burj al Arab, Dubai metro, the channel tunnel or the ITER experimental fusion reactor, Atkins has worked on some of the most iconic and mould-breaking infrastructure projects. Our consultants, engineers, technologists and project managers have helped clients reshape the world, with new ways of designing and building that make the lived environment work better for everyone. With our commitment to talent and to nurturing a more diverse workforce, Atkins is a major driver in making the industry more inclusive. This is also a core part of our legacy - and key to our plan to build a better future. OUR HISTORY From post-war regeneration and the advent of nuclear engineering to high speed rail and the design of integrated sustainable cities of the future, our people’s drive to ask ‘why?’ has delivered design, engineering and project management excellence on some of the world’s most complex projects. The original company, WS Atkins and Partners, was established in 1938 by Sir William Atkins in London. In its early years, the company specialised in civil and structural engineering design. After the Second World War, the services offered by WS Atkins and Partners to clients grew to include specialist services in planning, engineering sciences, architecture and project management. Sir William Atkins was awarded the CBE in 1966 and received a knighthood 10 years later. He died in the autumn of 1989. In the 1990s Atkins made several significant acquisitions, including the project and cost management consultancy Faithful+Gould. After almost 60 years of operating as a private company, Atkins was successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1996. In 2009 Atkins was appointed as the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Games In 2010 The PBSJ Corporation joined Atkins. In 2013 Atkins celebrated 75 years in business. In July 2017 Atkins was acquired by SNC-Lavalin. In August 2017 we re-registered as a private company, WS Atkins Limited. quick links Our people Engineering net zero Our priorities Our projects LONDON 2012 Creating a legacy for both people and infrastructure through regeneration Creating STEM opportunities for everyone We recognise that inspiring the next generation of engineers to build a sustainable future will be critical, both to our success and that of society. There is a shortage of professionals in our industry. To protect its future, it is vital that we now get more young people interested to join. We really love our jobs and are passionate about passing on our enthusiasm to young people, so that we can encourage more to choose our industry for their career. After all, the work we do can really make the world a better place; it affects people’s lives and that makes it a rewarding career. Find out more and get in touch. ARTICLE Diversity is a journey Senior buy-in has created a solid diversity and inclusion strategy, says vice president for human resource, Jilly Calder. Read more ARTICLE Supporting STEM home-schooling Fun, new ways for young people to discover the world of science, technology, engineering and maths. Read more NEWS Committed to addressing gender imbalance Atkins shows commitment to addressing gender imbalance in STEM careers by joining STEM Returners Programme Read more OUR PEOPLE READ MORE PROJECTS READ MORE OUR PRIORITIES READ MORE ENGINEERING NET ZERO READ MORE FIND OUT MORE EDAROTH Faithful+Gould SNC-Lavalin Markets & services Projects News Beyond engineering Careers Contact us ESSENTIALS Accessibility policy Privacy notice COVID-19 Secure Modern slavery & trafficking statement Statutory & regulatory disclosures Integrity Reporting line SIGNUP FOR ALERT Register to receive our latest news & insights Signup for alerts STAY IN TOUCH Footer Disclaimer Cookies settings Site map Copyright © 2021