Sheffield Forgemasters picks Turner & Townsend

The consultancy has been appointed as delivery support partner for the publicly-owned steel producer’s recapitalisation project.

The T&T team is co-located on site in Sheffield, and is tasked with leading the client’s recapitalisation programme, a project that led to the acquisition of a 10,000 sq ft support office last year.

As a result of the first phase of investment, the programme will deliver construction of the UK’s largest open-die forging facility and installation of a 13,000-tonne forge-line, to serve critical defence work.

Turner & Townsend will provide a wide range of services, from project management, and programme controls to digital solutions, advisory services and health and safety, alongside a wider project team of industry experts.

The appointment builds on the firm’s previous work with Sheffield Forgemasters, having provided support in the collaborative creation of a masterplan for the redevelopment of the company’s Sheffield site and manufacturing capabilities.

Chris Sargent, UK managing director, real estate, at Turner & Townsend, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Sheffield Forgemasters to be the delivery support partner on their recapitalisation programme.

“This substantial body of work in the industrial and defence sector builds on our existing relationship and track record we have with Sheffield Forgemasters and its other delivery partners and has been realised through proactive client engagement.”

Forgemasters is now owned by the Ministry of Defence. Craig Fisher, recapitalisation & transformation director at the group, said: “The appointment of a delivery support partner is a pivotal point in the development of new facilities, which will create an unparalleled manufacturing facility in Sheffield, supporting highly skilled engineering jobs and delivering on UK defence commitments.

“Turner & Townsend added value to our recapitalisation programme, primarily through the employment of local resource, but their digital offering was also a differentiator.”

Following the construction of the 140,000 sq ft building to house the new forge-line, the next phase of the recapitalisation programme will focus on delivery of a new machining facility at the site.

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company employing 10,000+ people in 50 countries. Majority-owned by the CBRE group, its partners hold a significant minority stake. The firm specialises in major programmes, programme management, cost and commercial management, net zero and digital solutions.