Consulting Firm of the Year
This category recognises the specialist geotechnical consultancy, or geotechnical division within a major consultant, that can demonstrate achievement of clear business milestones between January 2024 and January 2025.
The award will celebrate firms that have continually delivered innovation, quality and value during this period, while improving the business and making it more profitable.
BakerHicks
BakerHicks continue to cement their place in the Ground Engineering sector, as the team celebrates its 5th anniversary. The team delivers major infrastructure and building design for complex and sustainable projects. This year marked the teams first year as a standalone discipline, rather than embedded within the Civil and Structural discipline, achieving its most successful year to date with its first listing in the GE100 (Top 50 Consultants). The team has solved challenging ground engineering problems across the UK on nationally significant pieces of infrastructure. These include a nationally significant interconnector schemes, cable routes through peat and development on an infilled quarry. Through 2024 the ground engineering team increased in number and turnover with a sustained profit margin. The team further developed its service offering through the development and launch of its GIS capabilities.
Civic Earth
Civic Earth’s team of geologists, engineers and environmental scientists has achieved strong business growth by providing clients with an exceptional blend of technical excellence, insight, and innovative reporting to deliver quality and value, being appointed to some of the UK’s landmark regeneration projects. Civic Earth is seeing significant demand for its services due to the team’s exceptional technical excellence and innovation; commitment to caring about planet, people and place, and ‘system thinking’ approach as part of the wider Civic team, leading to strong financial and team growth in our first full year of trading. We believe that effective collaboration of the technical disciplines within project teams optimises soil functions, which is critical to system thinking in the built environment. A sound understanding of the ground conditions and soil properties is key to developing integrated and sustainable solutions through optimising soil reuse, carbon reduction, biodiversity and climate resilient drainage design.
Dr Sauer & Partners
Dr. Sauer & Partners (DSP) has seen a strong financial performance through 2024, continuing to diversify its geotechnical services. A 10% increase in revenue compared to 2023 is testament to this diversification plan but more importantly the bond between the company and its staff. In response to a significant slowdown on parts of HS2, DSP used its and our employees agility to add value and provide innovative design across a key feasibility study for the Bakerloo line Extension Project and a winning tender for London Underground’s Elephant and Castle Upgrade Project, deep rock support solutions at the Woodsmith Mine, complex geotechnical temporary works design across three HS2 JVs and many more geotechnical challenges. These projects are driven by our client relationships and repeat business, but gradually we win new clients each year. Staff engagement is centred around training and internal mentoring with industry-focused team trips to foster the one-team feeling.
Geowynd
Geowynd, an Ocean Infinity Group company, is a geoconsulting and integrated advanced geotechnical laboratory business supporting the offshore renewable sector. Our technology-driven integrated geosolutions approach focuses on delivering what is needed for clients in the offshore wind industry to maximise the potential from their acquired geo-data. Our leading and rapidly expanding geoconsulting team support our clients to help minimise risks and maximise opportunities of offshore projects. We employ state-of-the-art geological, geophysical and geotechnical technologies to ensure safe design, installation, operation and decommissioning of offshore assets throughout their full lifecycle. Our overall core mission, and why the company was originally established, is to support and accelerate the global transition towards fossil fuel free living through advanced and innovative geosolutions, enabling people and the planet to thrive.
LSTC
Geotechnical services at LSTC have demonstrated a rapid expansion from 2023 to 2025 with a growth in service offering and client base as they become known for offering a professional and bespoke service to the energy sector whilst maintaining a commitment to the people who make the business a success. The geotechnical department has doubled in size in the last 18 months to meet client demand and to allow space for personnel development and innovation. LSTC develop strong relationships with clients to ensure they understand project needs and offer a high-level of service. A small departmental team (10 personnel) is exceeding client expectations and delivering multi-million pound projects and developing innovative solutions to deliver projects on time and under budget.
Ternan Energy
Ternan Energy has demonstrated remarkable growth and innovation in marine geoscience consultancy throughout 2024. Their technical excellence is evidenced through major projects including Dogger Bank South, where they provided comprehensive Site Investigation Package Management, and the Caledonia Offshore Windfarm, where they supported groundbreaking semi-autonomous vessel deployment. The company has achieved significant financial growth, with revenues exceeding £4.8 million and projected to reach £7 million for 2025/26. They've strengthened client relationships through a new Key Account Management system while securing six new clients. Staff wellbeing initiatives include office relocations to offer the team flexibility and improved work/life balance, and enhanced benefits including a 10% matched pension scheme. With over 350 projects delivered across 30 countries, Ternan Energy has established itself as a crucial player in the offshore wind supply chain while maintaining strong focus on both technical excellence and employee satisfaction.