Environmental consultancy market shrinks for second consecutive year

The UK environmental consultancy market is continuing to decline as new research shows the sector contracted by 8.4% in 2010, losing £113m in value to now stand at £1,230m.

This is the market's second consecutive decline after more than two decades of unbroken growth, according to a report from Environment Analyst. The decline was chiefly due to government austerity and the curtailing of local authority expenditure.

As a result of this, the top 32 firms in the sector have collectively shedded just under 1,000 jobs - and the prospect of future growth looks uncertain as the market is predicted to flatline