Around three-quarters of CAN's business is geotechnical projects for slope and retaining wall stabilisation and installing rockfall protection measures. The remainder involves structural repairs, construction, inspection, testing and maintenance, often including bespoke access solutions.

CAN operates from three offices, Chesterfield, which oversees most of its operations, Northfleet and Portishead, and employs 250 staff. The company was owned by Neil Foster and Andy Wingfield, who will both continue to lead the business as it joins the geosciences and engineering division of RSK.

The announcement marks the latest in a major series of acquisitions by RSK, which is based in Helsby, UK, the fifth largest environmental consultancy in the UK RSK has 55 UK and 36 international offices and a turnover of £175 million.

"I am delighted to announce this acquisition, which will further enhance the RSK stable," said Dr Alan Ryder, CEO, RSK. "CAN's client base of principal contractors, specifically rail sector contractors, will complement other specialisms within RSK.

"Operationally, CAN has a large fleet of plant and facilities for modification and repair. These capabilities will directly benefit our ground investigation businesses for modifying, servicing and repairing rigs, and NDT Services for its pile test rig fabrication and hydraulic engineering."