AECOM has been named one of two Primary Designers for Scottish Water’s Enterprise Alliance, a 13‑year, up‑to‑$3 billion investment program that will modernise the United Kingdom’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The program, which will begin in 2026 and run through 2033 with a potential six‑year extension, represents the largest single‑utility investment ever undertaken by Scottish Water and will provide AECOM with a long‑term, fee‑based engagement that spans design, engineering and program management.
The announcement follows a competitive procurement that began on November 25, 2024 and concluded in March 2026. AECOM was selected alongside Stantec as the other Primary Designer, with additional partners such as M Group Water, Mott MacDonald, Bentley, Farrans, WGM Engineering and Ross‑Shire Engineering slated to deliver asset‑level work. The partnership will deliver a mix of capital projects, asset upgrades and operational improvements across Scotland’s water network.
Scottish Water, the publicly‑owned utility that supplies drinking water to the entire Scottish population, has earmarked the Alliance as its highest‑value venture to date. The multi‑billion‑dollar commitment will generate recurring fee‑based revenue for AECOM, reinforcing the company’s strategy to shift toward higher‑margin advisory and program‑management services. AECOM’s FY2025 revenue of $16.1 billion underscores the scale of the win relative to its overall business mix.
Richard Whitehead, chief executive of AECOM’s Europe and India region, said the Alliance “builds on our long‑standing partnership and reinforces AECOM’s role as a trusted advisor and delivery partner to the UK water sector.” He added that the enterprise‑style delivery model “sets a new benchmark for the industry, fostering collaboration, delivering efficiencies, and bringing additional value through our deep technical expertise and engineering‑led AI capabilities to increase certainty across complex capital programs.”
Beverley Stinson, chief executive of AECOM’s global Water business, highlighted the company’s commitment to the program, noting that “we’re proud to contribute to a transformative program that will strengthen water and wastewater infrastructure for communities across Scotland.” She added that AECOM’s status as the world’s top‑ranked water design firm by Engineering News‑Record positions it to deliver lasting benefits for millions of customers and the environment.
The win is a key milestone in AECOM’s European water strategy, which aims to double its water business globally over the next five years. By securing a long‑term, fee‑based contract, AECOM gains a stable revenue stream that supports its target of achieving over 20% operating margin by fiscal 2028. The partnership also demonstrates the company’s ability to leverage AI and digital solutions to drive efficiency and certainty in large‑scale infrastructure projects, a capability that is increasingly demanded by utilities worldwide.
The announcement was well received by industry observers, who noted that the Alliance’s scale and the inclusion of AI‑driven design tools signal a shift toward more integrated, technology‑enabled delivery models in the water sector. The contract also positions AECOM to compete more effectively against other global engineering firms such as Stantec, Mott MacDonald and Bentley, strengthening its competitive advantage in the UK and broader European market.
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