RSK Group has announced the acquisition of pre-construction services company, Central Alliance.

The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions by RSK and brings the company's total headcount to over 2,100 in 83 offices worldwide.

Based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Central Alliance provides ground investigation, geo-construction, training, technology and survey services to the UK construction, defence, rail, utilities and transport sectors. Through its in-house experts and up-to-the minute technology such as satellite imagery, aerial drones and muon tomography, Central Alliance has been helping high-profile clients, including Highways England and Network Rail, to deliver major infrastructure projects.

Projects include the Transpennine East and West rail schemes; A1 road widening schemes; saturated ground analysis for the M1 motorway; ground investigation on the A47; mobile mapping of the Sheffield Innovation Corridor; 3D laser scanning of UK canal locks and of National Grid electrical substations; and utility surveys for Sainsbury's supermarket car park projects nationwide.


As part of the deal, the Central Alliance business will continue to operate under its existing brand. Richard Pidcock and Craig White will become joint Managing Directors and Jason Marbeck will join the board as the Commercial Director.

Alan Ryder, Chief Executive Officer of RSK, said: "I am delighted that RSK has been able to acquire Central Alliance. It is a great business with great people and great clients. Our plan is to invest in the company and to help it grow.

"RSK now has over 100 drilling rigs with an equal number of trained crews, in-house laboratories and more site investigation capability than its rivals do. Whether it is a simple investigation for a single house, working on railway embankments using specialist slope-crawler rigs or investigating ground conditions for a new nuclear power station, RSK brings in top-quality people, with top-quality equipment, using innovative techniques."

Craig White, joint managing director of Central Alliance, said: "I am really excited about working with RSK and see great synergies between our companies in ground investigation and surveying. RSK is also a very professional organisation and we think Central Alliance will fit very well into the RSK group."

Image: Alan Ryder, Chief Executive Officer of RSK Group.

(LM)