Outlook is positive for consultants (From The Northern Echo)

Outlook is positive for consultants

9:51am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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A CONSULTING firm has attempted to play down concerns that proposed Government spending cuts would hit the business hard.

Mouchel, which has offices in Darlington, Northallerton and Middlesbrough, offers managerial and engineering consulting to organisations including the Highways Agency, Ofwat and local authorities.

The firm is cutting costs, with savings of £25m planned, although it would not comment on the number of jobs under threat.

Mouchel warned in June that “more discretionary” projects were being squeezed, but said that its order book had held firm at about £2bn, helping shares to rise five per cent.

The group said its steady order book confirmed “excellent visibility” over the medium and longer-term outlook, which it claimed was “increasingly positive” as the Government’s public spending plans are put in place.

Outside the UK, Mouchel is preferred bidder on a major contract in Australia and continues to receive payment from a previous client in the Middle East – debt-laden Dubai World – which bankrolled projects such as The Palm Islands and The World developments.