Baker Consultants Expands into Scotland

At the start of its sixth year in business, Baker Consultants has formalised its presence in Scotland with the appointment of Jane Forrest, to set-up and run a team near Aviemore, Inverness-shire.

Jane joined the team at the beginning of April from a career supervising teams of site ecologists and managing large renewable energy projects. An experienced ecologist with particular interest in upland habitats and species and mitigating impacts during construction processes, Jane will be exploring a range of project opportunities within her local area and across the north of Scotland.

Managing Director Andrew Baker said: “We are very pleased to welcome Jane to the team, her considerable experience of working in Scotland made her the ideal candidate to run our Scottish office and help us service our growing number of clients north of the border.”

Jane said of her new appointment: “I am delighted to be joining such a friendly and professional team where I feel I can make a solid contribution. The range of technical and consulting services matched what I wanted to offer the Scottish market, together with a company ethos that puts innovation and integrity at the heart of the business.”

As well as terrestrial ecology the company has a marine subsidiary providing underwater noise and marine bioacoustics services to the offshore wind sector. It has advised Marine Scotland on equipment and training for monitoring anthropogenic noise that may affect marine mammals in the Moray Firth. Marine Technical Director Federica Pace will be attending the Digital Conservation Conference and All Energy 2014 in May to catch up with some offshore clients.

Baker Consultants has experienced considerable growth in recent years and doubled turnover in the past 12 months. Its team of 20 in-house personnel provides ecological expertise in both the terrestrial and marine environments taking projects from the initial survey stage, through the planning system and, where necessary, to public inquiry. The marine team specialises in marine noise and bioacoustics and is currently working on two German offshore wind farm projects for DONG energy.

Press release, April 16, 2014; Image: Baker Consultants