AtkinsRéalis Ecology Policy Network: Shaping the future of policy for good

AtkinsRéalis is more than a consultancy. With years of experience working on large-scale infrastructure projects across the globe, a vast pool of talented engineers and ecologists, and access to the latest innovations and technologies, AtkinsRéalis has claimed its position as an industry leader. With that comes many benefits, but also much responsibility.

We take that responsibility seriously, and are driven by a passion to create a nature-positive future where people and the environment work together, and thrive. For us, that means going above and beyond meeting client briefs to ensure that nature is embedded into our work. It also means going above and beyond our work as consultants, to use our authority and influence to contribute to policy discussions that impact our work, our clients’ work and our environment.

AtkinsRéalis ecologists have been informally involved with policy and legislation for some time, advising and lobbying government, using their technical knowledge and experience to achieve the best outcomes.

The AtkinsRéalis Ecology Policy Network now formalises this role as a policy influencer. It galvanises our ecological expertise across the business to collaborate, bringing the best of everyone’s talent together in a targeted way to implement well-thought-out, evidence-based activities that will have an impact.

What we do

Members of the Network are immersed in policy – we work with it every day. This gives us the insight to understand what needs to change, and how. That’s why we need to be in on the action, positioning ourselves to influence policy and legislation and be part of the big conversations, increasing Atkins Realis’s visibility across the decision-making community.

Our activities cover four main areas:

Consultations

We have the experts and the technical knowledge across the UK Ecology Team, to authoritatively respond to consultations by critiquing proposals and giving robust evidence-based feedback nationally to government, and across the devolved nations. Our standing as industry leaders, and our collaborative approach with professional bodies means our feedback is always welcomed and helps shape proposed future legislation.

Statutory liaison 

Regularly meeting with civil servants, government departments and MPs, the devolved nations and advisory bodies, we have the opportunity to share our knowledge and suggest ways forward based on what’s happening at the coalface. These relationships made a huge difference when working on the Environment Act 2021 and the recent Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, pushing through amendments that are crucial for our shared aims.

Briefings and Guidance

AtkinsRéalis is a centre of expertise for ecology across the UK, and we frequently provide input on best practice guidance for industry. Recent examples include contributing to the Irreplaceable Habitat Guidance, which will form part of secondary legislation from the Environment Act 2021, and the expansion Biodiversity Net Gain in Wales.

Communication 

As a hub for policy engagement, we communicate between all stakeholders, in all directions. We inform government of client challenges, explaining pressures, threats and opportunities felt across the industry. Our policy activity also means we are best placed to explain legislation and its implications to our clients, and work internally to ensure the workforce is up to date, through various communications channels including social media platforms, email bulletins and webinars.

Getting the best deal for nature

The sum of these activities gives visibility to our principles and augments the voice of ecologists working hard on the ground. It gives us leverage on the direction and content of legislation to effect meaningful change. Collaborating with those in power means we can impart valuable knowledge to non-experts, enabling them to make informed decisions, and ultimately, develop better legislation that’s in everyone’s best interests.

This really can make a difference. Working recently with the Brexit Freedoms Bill (now the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023), we’ve realised how precarious protections for our natural assets can be, and it’s vital we work closely with those involved to ensure EU legislation is not watered down, or removed completely. We want to do all in our power to secure ecosystem resilience and ensure the maximisation of opportunities for a nature-positive and climate-resilient future.

Getting a seat around the table has exposed us to detailed discussions and fostered an understanding of the decision-making process. Working closely with a range of stakeholders has given us a unique insight into the workings of legislation and how it can best be utilised. By sharing our knowledge and putting it into practice, we can target our services and advise our clients to better equip the industry to tackle challenges of the future.

The Policy Network has formalised AtkinsRéalis’ position as a conduit between industry and the government, enabling a two-way learning curve. As a result, we’re in the privileged position of being able to inform and shape the future of policy, while at the same time educating and advising industry on that policy, to ensure we get the best outcomes for our clients, and for the environment.