Construction advisory SJA set for UK and Ireland expansion
Sydney-headquartered construction advisory and services firm SJA has flagged its upcoming expansion to the UK and Ireland, with new offices in London and Ireland to launch early next year.
A part of UK-based global engineering & environmental consultancy RSK since 2022, SJA will now set up shop in the home of its parent, building on its existing footprint of offices in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.
The move into Europe will coincide with the firm’s upcoming 25th anniversary, with SJA having been established by managing director Steve Abbott in his back-yard shed on the outskirts of Sydney in December of 1999.
Since then, SJA says it has completed more than 2,700 advisory, planning, project management and quantity surveying assignments for construction, engineering and infrastructure clients across the A/NZ and wider Asia Pacific region. These include critical projects in segments such as road & rail, water systems, energy & mining, communications, and marine infrastructure among other areas.
“This milestone expansion strengthens our ability to serve clients globally while upholding the integrity and quality we’re known for,” Abbott stated. “Reaching 25 years feels surreal. We literally started with a few desks and a dial-up internet connection. Connecting with clients in the UK and Ireland and the new offices are the ultimate testament to what our team has achieved.”
The latest expansion comes hot on the heels of SJA’s push into the Western Australian market and the establishment of a Southeast Asian office in Singapore to complement its existing regional branch in Hong Kong. In addition to its Sydney headquarters, the firm also has offices in Brisbane and Melbourne, along with Auckland and Wellington serving clients in New Zealand.
The firm said establishing new bases in London and Ireland was the next logical step, particularly with the RSK Group and so many of its more than 200 professional and technical services subsidiaries operating from the region. Collaborating with these sister companies will also boost SJA's integrated, multi-disciplinary service offering to clients across the world.
The rapid expansion is all the more remarkable for a number of recent bumps SJA has faced in reaching its quarter-of-a-century milestone, including Covid-19. Reflecting on the anniversary, Abbott said; “From the GFC nearly closing our doors to tackling an industry increasingly pressured to build faster and cheaper, we’ve had to fight to maintain quality and integrity.”
