ACOR Consultants beefs up in Canberra with Rudds deal
National engineering consultancy ACOR Consultants has acquired Rudds Consulting Engineers, adding a team of 70 professionals to its ranks.
According to Michael Goodwin, the Managing Director of ACOR Consultants, the move benefits the firm’s portfolio of offerings. “Rudds outstanding market reputation and comprehensive skill base naturally complements our existing capabilities,” particularly in the electrical, mechanical, hydraulics and acoustic disciplines.
Founded over fifty years ago, Rudds Consulting Engineers is an engineering consultancy specialised in building services. The firm’s two directors – Lou Forner and Andrew Beattie – came on board in 2002 when they bought the firm together with a 12-strong group of experienced team members. Today, the consultancy employs over 60 professionals.
Projects the company has worked on include the One Canberra development close to parliament house, the commercial office fitout of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) in Canberra, and the recently launched Canberra Airport Terminal.
Commenting on the decision to join the much larger counterpart (330 employees pre-deal), Beattie said: “We firmly believe that the opportunities provided by merging our business into ACOR Consultants will significantly benefit our staff and clients alike.”
With cultural elements a notorious bottleneck to any smooth integration in the professional services industry, both Beattie and Goodwin emphasized that the firms have looked closely into the human capital side of the merger. Working together on a number of engagements prior to the agreement was a key part of this due diligence.
Goodwin: “This demonstrated the synergies and benefits of the amalgamation and the shared values that underpins our joining of forces.” Beattie added, “in reaching this decision we placed a large emphasis on organisational culture.”
Australian Capital Territory
The bolt-on provides ACOR Consultants with a beefed up foothold in the Australian Capital Territory, and enhances its propositions to government clients in Canberra through Rudds’ track record and operations in Fyshwick and Southbank. As part of the transition, Rudds will for the time being trade under the new name of ACOR-Rudds Consultants.
With over 400 people, ACOR Consultants now is one of Australia’s largest home grown employee-owned engineering consultancies. The firm was founded in 1997 and has offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle, Central Coast, Gold Coast and Broome.
In related engineering consulting news, Australian-origin Elton Consulting recently joined global player WSP, while earlier this month project management consultancy Calcutta Group joined TSA Management.
