ERM (Environmental Resources Management) is a multinational consultancy firm which focuses on sustainability and the environment. It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company provides environmental, health, safety, risk, and social consulting services and sustainability related services.

ERM Limited
Company typeUK private company limited by guarantee[1]
IndustryProfessional services
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987) (through merger of UK-based ERL 1971 and USA-based ERM 1977)[2]
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom[3]
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Tom Reichert, CEO[4]
ServicesEnvironmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting services and sustainability related services
RevenueIncrease US$1,323 million (2023)[5]
OwnersKKR & ERM partners
Number of employees
8,000 (2023)[6]
Websitewww.erm.com

History

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ERM Limited was formed in 1987, through the merger of two companies: the UK-based consultancy firm ERL, which was founded in 1971; and the USA-based consultancy firm ERM, which was founded in 1977.[2]

The company has since grown through various acquisitions.[7][8][9]

During 2015, OMERS and AIMCo purchased a majority stake in ERM from Charterhouse Capital Partners.[10] In May 2021, a majority stake in the company was purchased from OMERS and AIMCo by American global investment company KKR, valuing the company at around $2.7 billion including debt.[10][11] A minority stake continues to be held by ERM partners.

Projects

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ERM prepared the environmental statement for High Speed 1, Britain's first dedicated modern high speed line, during the 1990s.[12] In the 2010s, a consortium led by ERM was awarded the environmental impact assessment work for part of the High Speed 2 programme. Other consortium members included Mott MacDonald and Temple Group.[13][14]

The company has also performed environmental studies for international railway projects. In the 1990s, ERM was contracted to perform studies of multiple railway development proposals in Hong Kong.[15][16] During the early 2010s, it worked on an air quality assessment for the prospective expansion of a South African manganese ore mining line at the behest of Transnet.[17] Around the same time period, ERM assessed the environmental compliance of a major train station on behalf of Brisbane City Council,[18] and a new rail corridor in Tanzania.[19]

ERM has frequently worked in the mining and energy sectors. The company produced the impact assessment for the Keystone Pipeline; critics accused it of having a conflict of interest by means of affiliation with proponents of the scheme.[20] During 2021, it performed an environmental impact assessment in Guyana for the American oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil; its work on the project became a controversial matter due to alleged errors.[21][22] ERM also prepared the impact assessment for the Dakota Access Pipeline despite having an alleged conflict of interest in the scheme.[23] It also certified that the Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, on the international border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, did not pose serious adverse effects on human settlement along the Zambezi River.[24] ERP performed the environemental and social impact assessment for exploratory drilling in São Tomé and Príncipe during the late 2010s.[25]

In 2022, the company was amongst several parties that were sued by a group of Houston residents that alleged misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, wrongful death, and personal injury claims related to environmental pollution.[26]

In 2019, ERM received funding from the British government for Project Dolphyn, a project focused on green hydrogen production from offshore wind power.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ "ERM Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "History". ERM. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  3. ^ "About". ERM. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Tom Reichert Joins ERM Group as Global CEO". ERM. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Financial overview". ERM. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Our People". ERM. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  7. ^ "ERM acquires specialised media production safety consultancy". consultancy.uk. 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ Stutt, Amanda (4 March 2020). "Critical Resource, ERM join to tackle ESG risks". mining.com.
  9. ^ "ERM to acquire energy transition advisory Energetics". consultancy.uk. 10 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b "KKR to Buy Sustainability Consultancy ERM From Canada Funds". Bloomberg. 17 May 2021.
  11. ^ "KKR buys sustainability consultancy ERM at $3 billion valuation". consultancy.uk. 18 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Channel Tunnel Rail Link". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 14 April 1994.
  13. ^ "ERM leads HS2 environment consortium". Tunnels Online. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. ^ Giesler, Nick (January 2013). "HS2 Phase Two Initial Preferred Scheme: Sustainability Summary" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk.
  15. ^ "1: Introduction" (PDF). epd.gov.hk. May 2000.
  16. ^ "Penny's Bay Rail Link" (PDF). epd.gov.hk. February 2000.
  17. ^ "AIR QUALITY BASELINE ASSESSMENT FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING MANGANESE ORE RAILWAY LINE FROM HOTAZEL IN THE NORTHERN CAPE TO THE PORT OF NGQURA IN THE EASTERN CAPE" (PDF). ERM. June 2013.
  18. ^ Berry, Greg (24 March 2014). "Request for Compliance Assessment". Brisbane City Council.
  19. ^ "Climate change is a threat to Africa's transport systems: what must be done". theconversation.com. 10 June 2021.
  20. ^ RESTUCCIA, ANDREW; TAU, BYRON (16 December 2013). "Conflict of interest on Keystone?". politico.com.
  21. ^ "Questions mount on consultant hired for environment surveys on Exxon projects". stabroeknews.com/. 27 December 2021.
  22. ^ Nokta, Shyam (7 December 2021). "Nokta says apology settles unauthorised use of signature on Yellowtail document". stabroeknews.com/.
  23. ^ Queally, Jon (9 September 2023). "'Furious' at Army Corps, Tribe Calls for Public Support to Shut Down Dakota Access Pipeline". commondreams.org.
  24. ^ "Batoka power project clears ESIA hurdle". sundaymail.co.zw. 14 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) for an exploratory and appraisal drilling programme in Block 6, São Tomé e Príncipe" (PDF). ALP Energia São Tomé e Príncipe Unipessoal, Limitada. January 2019.
  26. ^ Miranda, Janet (12 December 2022). "Union Pacific Sued By Houston Residents Over Pollution". news.bloomberglaw.com.
  27. ^ "Dolphyn hydrogen project receives £427,000". H2 View. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Dolphyn project gets £3.1m for offshore wind-powered hydrogen production". Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 18 February 2020.
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