WS Atkins wins post-Games job

WS Atkins has received a much-needed boost after being appointed to work on a legacy project following on from the Olympics.

The engineering and design company, which issued a profits warning in August on the back of weak demand in the US and project delays in the Middle East, said it has been appointed to "oversee the technical transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (where Usain Bolt set a record for the 100m, left), from Games venue into an exciting new visitor destination and community park".

The contract with the London Legacy Development Corporation will include removing temporary infrastructure at the east London site and "the conversion of permanent venues, infrastructure and landscape into legacy configurations".

Atkins could not give much further detail, although it said the contract would involve building a 7km mountain biking track and a 1.6km competitive cycling circuit.

It revealed the contract yesterday alongside a trading update, which said its performance in the second quarter was consistent with the outlook given in August.

Atkins said its North America consultancy was faced with weak market conditions. The energy business continued to trade well.