Construction advisory firm, SIA, which is part of the worldwide RSK Group, has announced it will expand to the United Kingdom early next year, with new offices in London and Dublin.
SIA made the announcement during celebrations to commemorate 25 years and more than 2700 construction-related assignments across Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.
The new offices in London and Ireland will add to SJA’s already impressive list of offices in Sydney (head office), Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, Wellington, Hong Kong and Singapore, and will enable SJA to offer its services across the UK and Europe, expanding its international footprint.
The company’s managing director Steve Abbott founded SJA in 1999 after gaining decades of experience in the building, construction and engineering industries.
The company began as a grassroots professional services business built on grit and a vision to make a difference in the construction industry.
Abbott launched the business in a 12-metre shed at the back of his property at the foot of the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, with a DIY logo made in MS Word on a computer the size of a boulder and a few desks.
Abbott holds a triple fellowship at the Australian Institute of Project Management, the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Building.
Commencing in the industry as a carpenter, he is now an accomplished testifying construction expert with experience across all legal jurisdictions where he specialises in construction quantum, forensic delay and disruption analysis as well as project delivery and construction quality.
“Reaching 25 years feels surreal. We literally started with a few desks in a shed and a dial-up internet connection,” Abbott said.
“Over the years, we have been bringing our expertise to new clients in new regions. Connecting with clients in the UK and Ireland, and the new offices are the ultimate testament to what our team has achieved.”
Working with other RSK companies in the region will allow SJA to offer an integrated, multi-disciplinary service to clients across its global network.
Today, SJA is a powerhouse of construction consulting, made possible by a large team of talented and dedicated construction professionals.
Reflecting on the last 25 years, Abbott and the team at SJA have witnessed ever increasing short cuts in the construction process.
“From the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) nearly closing our doors to tackling an industry increasingly pressured to build faster and cheaper, we've had to fight to maintain quality and integrity,” he said.
“We have doubled down on rigorous standards and long-term solutions, even as shortcuts have become more tempting for the industry.”