Читать книгу Global Environmental Careers - Justin Taberham - Страница 28

There has been a rapid growth in consultancies, especially global environmental and engineering consultancy firms, who have diversified their areas of work. Many have grown significantly through mergers and acquisitions. These mergers continue as key players in the sector seek to secure their positions as ‘super consultancies’.

The so‐called ‘Global 23’ companies (now called the ‘Global 22’ by Environment Analyst in 2019) dominate the global market with over 40% of the total global market. These companies include AECOM, Tetra Tech and Arcadis.

The services delivered by consultancies have developed significantly. There are a small number of global consultancies who are able to manage virtually any engineering, technical and environmental service needed, from building a dam or bridge to developing policies and strategies for governments. There are also many more specialised consultancies who offer services in more specific areas such as ecological surveys, planning, policy development and environmental restoration works. Increasingly, the more successful of these smaller consultancies are being swallowed through acquisition by larger consultancies who want to be able to offer further services and gather the clients of the smaller companies. There is also a pool of experienced independent individual consultants who are hired as freelancers by the larger consultancies as and when they are needed.

Consultancies have become increasingly global in their reach, operations and main offices. This also rings true for employment within these companies – many multinational organisations have teams of experts who work on a global basis, as well as considerable numbers of local staff. This opens an opportunity for global environmental careers in a diverse range of areas of employment. However, the limitations of working rules and visas for certain nationalities can complicate the flexibility for some staff to secure global roles within consultancies. This book has a chapter on Environmental Consultancy as this is a key area to consider for a green career.