Growth momentum continues in first half for Ramboll

Global architecture, engineering and consultancy company Ramboll continued its positive growth curve in the first half of 2023, according to its latest financial results. 

In half-year figures, gross revenue was DKK 8.4bn (£960m), an increase of 7.1% as compared to the first half of 2022. 

However, group pre-tax profits for the period dropped from DKK 305.5m (£35m) in 2022 to DKK 252.7m (£28.9m) during the same half-year period this year. 

Organic growth was 9.2% compared to 8.3% in the first half of 2022.

With a stable order book across all markets, Ramboll said it expects continued high organic growth and full-year profit margin in line with or slightly above last year.

The UK business reported a strong performance, seeing a 21% rise in revenue growth during the period and a 10% increase in staff numbers. 

Philippa Spence, UK managing director at Ramboll, said: “The UK business continues to perform well and at this mid-point of 2023 we have achieved double-digit gross revenue growth at 21%. 

“This trend follows a strong 2022, which saw 22% gross revenue growth. We’ve also welcomed more employees into Ramboll this year, increasing our UK headcount by 10% to 1,500. 

“Faced with the pressures of inflation, which has limited economic growth and had a direct impact on planned infrastructure investment, we have been well placed to navigate the market conditions thanks to our business mix and focus on sustainability.  

 “Our success is grounded in Ramboll’s commitment to our people and empowering them to innovate, which is driving systemic changes in how we deliver sustainability for our clients. Not only is this creating positive outcomes for our client’s projects, but for nature, society and our people”. 

On announcing the half-year figures, group CEO Jens-Peter Saul, added: “I am pleased to report another solid half-year result for Ramboll. We are continuing the positive growth rate with 9.2% organic growth across the group, which is above expectations.”

He said 18 months ago Ramboll launched an ambitious strategy, the Partner for Sustainable Change, which he said “goes all-in on sustainability”, committing the group’s global resources to improve the sustainability impact of projects.

“The strategy has played a central part in our successful organic growth that has been steady at close to 10% the past year and a half - a remarkable increase since the launch of the strategy,” he added.

“I am especially proud of our more than 18,000 employees who are committed to the strategy, and who continue to challenge norms and champion new approaches that help carve out a path to a more sustainable future.” 

Ramboll’s businesses in Denmark, UK and Germany all delivered double-digit growth, contributing strongly to the result. The Energy business unit delivered the highest growth among all business units while Environment & Health also performed particularly well. 

In the UK Ramboll has secured positions on the Development and Regeneration Technical Services Framework (DaRTS – Lot 1) for Homes England. Ramboll will provide end-to-end technical and professional services in addition to supporting Prior+Partners to deliver Placemaking, master planning and design services (Lot 2) to Homes England projects until 2027.