We are a global collective of designers, engineers, planners, project managers and technical experts. Dedicated to sustainable development, we've been helping to shape a better world for over 75 years. Founded by Sir Ove Arup in 1946, our firm embodies the Bauhaus ideal of 'total architecture' – closer collaboration between architects and engineers leading to higher quality design, informed by a wider range of insights and better reflecting the needs of users. Our belief that engineering can and should marry social purpose and design ambition remains a hallmark of our work to this day. From the Sydney Opera House to the Beijing National Stadium, from High Speed 1 to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, we've gained a reputation for technical ingenuity, with our engineers repeatedly proving themselves capable of realising the most ambitious designs. We operate across 140 countries around the world with approximately 18,000-19,000 staff, delivering innovative projects that contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We are an organisation which is human and friendly despite being large and efficient. Where every member is treated not only as a link in a chain of command, or as a wheel in a bureaucratic machine, but as a human being whose happiness is the concern of all. Since 1977, we have been owned by Trusts of which current and former employees are beneficiaries. This trust-owned structure affords us total independence and the ability to take a long-term view, without external pressures from shareholders or the risk of change in ownership. We are an employee-owned business, with all staff owning a stake in the company and part of a global profit share. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. We care about each member's success, so we can grow together.

We guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. We are a global consultancy with extensive technical and advisory expertise. Our multidisciplinary approach, known as 'Total Design,' integrates various engineering and architectural disciplines to deliver holistic solutions. We offer a wide range of services that address every priority in the built and natural environments – from advisory services and climate consulting to engineering, digital solutions, and planning. We influence the outcomes of projects throughout their entire lifecycle, from major infrastructure projects to high-performance and decarbonized buildings. Our combination of local perspective and deep global expertise brings to life world-class projects for the communities in which we live and work.

In 1970, Ove Arup delivered his 'Key Speech', setting out the company's aims and the principles for achieving them. These values continue to guide us: quality of work, total architecture, humane organisation, straight and honorable dealings, social usefulness, and the reasonable prosperity of our members. We have a social conscience, a wish to do socially useful work, and to join hands with others fighting for the same values. Our pursuit of quality should in itself be useful. We are committed to meaningfully contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, creating shared value for our clients and our communities while safeguarding our planet.

Quality of work – We strive for technical excellence in everything we do. Total architecture – We believe in unified design and engineering, bringing together diverse disciplines. Humane organisation – We treat every member as a human being whose happiness is the concern of all. Straight and honorable dealings – We maintain fair and honourable dealings with our people, where recognition, reward and opportunity reflect ability, experience, and aspiration. Social usefulness – We choose work where we can make a positive difference in the world. Reasonable prosperity – We believe that quality and social impact take precedence over profit, as reasonable prosperity follows from honorable, useful work.

As a proudly independent, trust-owned firm, we focus entirely on our clients and consistently invest in research and technical expertise. Our autonomy enables us to deliver the greatest impact for our clients' projects. Whether it's designing more resilient rail infrastructure or using AI to protect people from rising urban heat, we bring borderless collaboration and real global opportunities. Our trusted brand, deep-rooted culture of collaboration, and unparalleled access to domain expertise position us uniquely to help solve the world's most complex problems. We are tenacious problem-solvers, daring designers, creative coders, imaginative engineers, insightful economists, inventive acousticians, and experts in many other disciplines working together to shape a better world.

In 2020, we embarked on a journey to achieve net zero emissions across all our global operations by 2030 – from the energy used in our offices to the goods and services we purchase. We have set deep emission reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) 1.5°C mitigation pathways, which have been reviewed and validated by the SBTi. We are signatories to The Climate Pledge and the World Green Business Council's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, and members of Race to Zero and the World Economic Forum's Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. We have committed to undertaking whole lifecycle carbon assessments for all our buildings projects – new and retrofit. We also committed to not taking on any new energy commissions from 1 April 2022 involving the extraction, refinement, or transportation of hydrocarbon-based fuels except the manufacture of hydrogen. Our Net Zero Carbon Strategy sets out how we will achieve the 1.5°C aligned science-based target for our full value chain emissions and compensate residual hard-to-decarbonise emissions with certified greenhouse gas removal.

Social value has been at the heart of our work since the firm was founded over 75 years ago. We believe that social value is the enduring and systemic change created within communities that leads to improved quality of life and results in a more inclusive, equitable and just society. We don't just design buildings and infrastructure – we shape places that promote equity, inclusion, and well-being, creating lasting social impact for current and future generations. Whether designing a citywide masterplan or refining the smallest detail of a building, we integrate social value and equity into our work, ensuring accessibility, addressing historical injustices, and creating new opportunities for education, employment and healthy lives. We run community engagement programmes comprising initiatives to combat homelessness, improve sanitation in disaster relief programmes, and disaster recovery after earthquakes. We also engage in partnerships with governments, NGOs, think tanks, and other advocacy groups.

We strive to create an inclusive environment where every individual feels a genuine sense of belonging. Our commitment to equity ensures that all team members have access to opportunities without barriers, fostering both personal and professional growth. Our diverse teams are enabled to excel, delivering outstanding results that positively impact our clients and communities. Our global EDI strategy 'From EDI to Belonging' (2025-2030) outlines how we integrate EDI into our core operations, enhancing collaboration and ensuring consistent positive outcomes across our global business. We envision a dynamic Arup where equitable treatment is the norm, our workforce mirrors the communities we serve and everyone feels safe to express themselves, challenge conventions and drive innovation. We are committed to employing disabled and neurodivergent people, as well as those with long-term health conditions. Since 2021, we have scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. We partner with the United Nations and Catalyst to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion, and we are a Valuable 500 signatory working to end disability exclusion.