Architecture specialist to work as 鈥榊RM-Lab鈥�, with few staff transferring to Scottish-based firm
Infrastructure architect YRM will continue to operate as separately branded 鈥淵RM-Lab鈥� following its takeover by Scottish firm RMJM before Christmas.
A spokesman said that YRM-Lab will become a new RMJM 鈥渟tudio鈥�, sitting alongside the various geographical 鈥渟tudios鈥� RMJM operates. It will lead on the design of hi-tech 鈥渄igital real estate鈥� as well as the work in the energy infrastructure sector.
The deal follows a difficult period for the 65-year-old YRM, which reduced its UK staff from 60 in mid-2009 to around 25 by December last year and shut offices in Bucharest and Vienna.
Insiders said just the 鈥渒ey core design and technology team鈥� were going across to RMJM, with the transfer thought to include the business鈥檚 potentially lucrative role designing the 拢5bn new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
Both firms were unwilling to clarify the cost of the deal or reports that as few as six staff will transfer over to RMJM.
YRM鈥檚 latest accounts for its UK business show it falling to a 拢400k loss in 2010 on revenue of 拢4.3m, down 27% on 2009. With a major contract for an 拢80m data centre coming to an end, the nuclear work for EDF is thought to be its most significant.
YRM鈥檚 chief executive John Clemow said he approached RMJM about a sale in order to provide the 鈥渃apacity, capability and reach our clients in the UK, EU and EMEA increasingly require鈥�.
RMJM chief executive Peter Morrison, (pictured), said: 鈥淵RM鈥檚 position in energy and technology-related projects and our combined experience across a wide range of sectors strengthens RMJM鈥檚 offer in the global marketplace.鈥�
锘縏he firm added in a statement: 鈥淭he demand for clean and secure energy supply is driving interest and investment in nuclear power.鈥�
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