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Listed multi-disciplinary consultants White Young Green and Capita Symonds are both poised for further acquisitions in the QS and project management sector.

WYG said it was about to buy a medium-sized UK QS as part of a plan to push the non-engineering side of its business. The firm is expected to announce the acquisition at the end of March in its half-year results statement.

Capita Symonds revealed this week that further buys were a "distinct possibility" in the wake of its £29.9m acquisition of Symonds two years ago.

Managing director Richard Marchant said the firm was weighing up deals that would strengthen the firm's geographical spread in the UK and its skills base. "They are a bit more difficult to do for everybody due to issues of pensions and ownership but we are actively progressing with things. Watch this space."

Both firms are also restructuring. WYG is set to launch a new business unit called Management Services in July that will bring together six existing services, including cost consultancy. The idea is to tell clients the firm has more to offer than just engineering consultancy, according to Clive Anderson, director at WYG.

The six services are project management, cost consultancy, property management (including FM, building surveying and building consultancy), health and safety, security and management consultancy.

The integration (with Symonds) has been positive. There’s not been a fallout

Richard Marchant, managing director, Capita Symonds

At present the services have a combined turnover of £8m. WYG employs 100 staff in the six units, including 95 fee earners.

Anderson said that while he was leading the six services at present, depending on the details of the imminent merger, the management shape could change. The new business will operate from offices in Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester and Newcastle.

Marchant has picked three directors beneath him to look after a mixture of skill-sets and regions: former Symonds director Jonathan Goring heads management and infrastructure; Andrew Murray leads the design, M&E and structural consultancy and the South West; and Graham Cowley runs the North region. Former Symonds boss Chris Booy remains non-executive chairman at the firm.

Marchant said the Symonds deal had been a good one for the firm. "It's worked out well. The integration has been positive. There's not been a fallout in terms of people."

• Last week WYG launched a separate consultancy that will offer advice to clients and other consultancies on environmental issues. The Sustainability Bureau's services will include advice on ethical procurement.