Belfast consultancy AM Consulting Engineers has acquired Coventry-based civil and structural engineering firm Bridges Pound in a move it says will double its workforce to 40 and broaden its market reach across the UK.
The deal, on which AM was advised by Turley Legal, follows its recent move to new headquarters at Jennymount Business Park, alongside further expansion of its Cork office.
Bridges Pound, founded in 1984, works nationwide for a mixed client base of developers, contractors, and local authorities, and AM believes the acquisition will broaden its sector expertise by adding hotel, education, and major infrastructure projects to its portfolio.
Established in 2021 by Aidan McCarthy as a specialist civil engineering consultancy, AM was the first company to complete Invest NI’s ‘Ambition to Grow’ programme in 2023.
Since then it has rapidly expanded its service offering to include structural and geotechnical engineering, working across the water, wastewater, transportation, building, and broader infrastructure sectors.
Last year the firm announced a £1.3m investment to support sales growth in the Middle East with backing from Invest NI’s Export Growth Programme.
High-profile recent projects undertaken by AM include feeding into the construction of the high-profile £84m Narrow Water Bridge project connecting Warrenpoint with Omeath; acting as structural engineer on the restoration of the Clarence Chambers Building on Belfast’s Donegall Square East into Margot Belfast; and working with Coffey on the Terryland water treatment plant on the River Corrib in Galway.
AM Consulting Engineers managing director Aidan McCarthy said: “This acquisition represents a significant milestone in our growth journey, strengthening our civil, structural, and geotechnical capabilities while accelerating our expansion across the Great Britain market.
“The addition of Bridges Pound’s highly respected team and established project portfolio enhances the depth of expertise we can offer our clients, particularly across complex infrastructure, education, and building projects.”
Stuart Heaton, managing director of Bridges Pound, added: “This is exciting news and is a strong endorsement of the expertise and reputation our team has built over 41 years.
“With civil engineering expected to enjoy a period of high growth over the next decade, this investment by AM is coming at the right time for the talented workforces in both companies, bringing complementary skills together.”
