Design and engineering consultancy group WS Atkins said it continues to trade in line with company expectations and its outlook for the year remains unchanged despite market headwinds.

Its UK business performed well in the period, notwithstanding the interruption in a rail signalling contract awards previously highlighted.

Business in North America experienced a slow start to the seasonally weaker second half of the year but despite this, the outlook for the full year remains in line with company forecasts and it continues to anticipate overall year on year margin improvement.

In the Middle East it recently secured two sizeable contracts in Qatar and it is confident that it remains well placed to take advantage of significant opportunities. "We continue to experience more onerous contract payment terms on some of our current government and infrastructure work," it cautioned.

Its Asia Pacific and Europe businesses continue to perform well, despite very weak market conditions in both Portugal and Ireland.

"The group's geographic and sector diversification continues to provide resilience and our overall outlook for the year remains unchanged."

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