The infrastructure professional services sector includes technical and management consultancies, planning and environmental consultants, project management organisations, financial services and legal firms.
The development of any new infrastructure project requires significant involvement from a range of different professionals as each project moves from feasibility and outline design, through business case and investment, planning and consenting, detail design and construction.
The South West attracts many environmental and planning consultants to the region with the head office of both the Environment Agency and the Planning Inspectorate based in Bristol. The South West is also seen as one of the leading centres for law firms outside of London with several firms headquartered in Bristol and operating nationally and internationally.
Technical consultants and project management firms have grown extensively in the region over the past two decades as has the presence of many financial, investment and banking organisations involved in infrastructure development.