Design doctors

PM Group has announced plans to develop hospitals and clinics in Poland in partnership with its subsidiary Devereux Architects. PM Group took over the UK-based design firm in Q2 of this year in order to harness its 55 years of design and engineering experience in the health and services sectors.

According to Con Murphy, managing director of PM Group Polska, the acquisition affords the company an edge in competing for contracts across Europe, and particularly in Poland. "Based on the long-term standstill in Poland's health sector, there aren't many Polish companies with the required know-how for such projects," he said. Murphy also noted that he anticipated rapid growth in the industry and declared that the company planned to collaborate with Polish health authorities to create a standard for the development and construction of healthcare facilities.

As PM Group Polska looks to become involved in a wider range of activity across the public and private sectors - including retail centers and hotels - it expects to hire between 40-50 people in the near future. This number could be expanded further given increased construction activity in preparation for the Euro 2012 games.

"The development of our activity throughout Poland is among the company's chief goals," declared Murphy, adding that it could also move into Russia, Romania and Bulgaria in the near future.