Global engineering services and nuclear company AtkinsRéalis will take a leading role in supporting the Environment Agency’s (EA) ambitious programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes across England – following the appointment to a key framework from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA).
Image: Environment Agency's Thames Barrier
Working alongside strategic subconsultants Stantec and Waterman, AtkinsRéalis will provide client support and professional services to EA on the Flood Risk and Asset Management (FRAM) framework. This supports the UK Government’s long-term infrastructure ambitions including a £7.9 billion investment in flood defences between 2026 and 2036, to better protect hundreds of thousands of properties.
Richard Whale, Global Market Director for Water at AtkinsRéalis, said:
“FRAM plays a central role in enabling the Environment Agency to deliver a nationally significant programme designed to reduce flood risk and increase resilience for communities, businesses and the natural environment.
“Thanks to our long-standing working relationship with EA, AtkinsRéalis is well placed to bring together engineering, environmental and programme delivery expertise to help deliver solutions that are not only effective, but also sustainable and adaptable over the long term.
“Having worked effectively with EA in the south west over recent years, this appointment elevates the role of AtkinsRéalis to national supplier for EA across the whole of England and we’re ready to bring our expertise to this significant framework with our teams across the country.”
The GCA Construction Professional Services 2 FRAM framework will support the delivery of EA’s flood and coastal programme by ensuring the agency has the capability and resources needed to deliver projects efficiently and effectively, across three sub-Lots:
- Lot 9a: Technical Services
- Lot 9b: Environmental Services
- Lot 9c: Commercial and Programme Management Services
By enabling the delivery of flood defence and coastal management schemes, work under the framework will help reduce flood risk for communities and businesses across England, as well as enhance resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.
It will also protect critical infrastructure and property as well as support environmental sustainability, including the protection and enhancement of natural habitats.
AtkinsRéalis, together with Stantec and Waterman, will create a strong, integrated supply chain with the scale, expertise and reach required to support complex, multi-site programmes over the four years of the framework.
Jamie Woods, Stantec’s regional business lead for Environmental Services in the UK said:
“The challenges facing our environment and coastal regions are only getting more urgent, which is why it’s so important to draw together our collective experience and understanding of the best solutions.
“AtkinsRéalis and Waterman are the perfect partners for Stantec’s teams and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together to benefit communities and support resilience over the next few years.”
Kerry Foster, Regional Director at Waterman, commented:
“We are delighted to be appointed to this important framework alongside AtkinsRéalis and Stantec. Our focus will be on providing high-quality secondment support, with experienced professionals embedded directly within Environment Agency teams to strengthen capability and help deliver critical flood and coastal resilience projects.
“With increasing pressure on flood and coastal resilience assets across the UK, access to the right expertise at the right time is critical. This framework enables us to provide flexible, responsive support that helps accelerate project delivery, build organisational capacity, and create lasting benefits for the communities these projects are designed to protect.”
The appointment builds on AtkinsRéalis’ strong track record with the Environment Agency, including its work on the Collaborative Delivery Framework, as well as roles on the Beach Management and Modelling and Mapping frameworks. This experience has enabled the company to develop a deep understanding of the client’s priorities, operational needs and long-term objectives.
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