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Winner

EC Harris
The International Achievement trophy, awarded for EC Harris’ impressive portfolio of work around the world, makes it a double win for the QS this year. With over 30 years experience of delivering stunning projects in the Middle East, the firm has established itself as a market leader among almost 300 other consultants based in the area. The fact that the total height of all buildings EC Harris now manages in the region exceeds the height of Mount Everest, gives some indication of its workload.

Its success is owed to its extensive network of regional offices and its alliances with high-profile clients, including Dubai Holding, HSBC, Nokia and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. A series of wins, including The Louvre, Abu Dhabi; Tiger Woods Dubai; and Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi, means the next few years look set to be busier than ever.

Runners-up

Franklin + Andrews
With its economy highly reliant on exports, South Africa’s infrastructure requires massive investment and Franklin + Andrews is making an immense contribution to dealing with this. Its current five-year £9bn commission involves delivering improvements to ports in Durban, Cape Town and Saldanha, as well as building a brand new one in Ngqura and refurbishing an 878km freight railway – and it is working through these at an impressive speed. Under its parent company Mott MacDonald, Franklin + Andrews has established offices in over 100 countries, blending its high-level expertise with local knowledge.

Rider Levett Bucknall
Rider Levett Bucknall’s global practice was formed in 1947 and now comprises over 2,000 people across 60 offices in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. The company has been working on such high-profile projects as the HSBC headquarters in Hong Kong, the Sydney Opera House and the Singapore Flyer. It has also won commissions from clients including Tesco, Sheraton and BAE Systems. A Tesco planning executive praised the company for its conscientiousness and enthusiastic response to challenges.

Turner & Townsend
Turner & Townsend has engaged in international operations for over 25 years and recently restructured its international operations into seven regions: the Americas; UK; Europe; Africa; the Middle East; and Asia and Australia. At the end of the last financial year it employed 2051 staff, operated out of 52 offices in 25 countries, and had a turnover of £51m. It hopes that the restructure will allow it to expand in size and in the services it offers. The company’s global span also means it offers staff the opportunity to move between international locations, widening their experiences and equipping them for future challenges.