Top 10 Best Design and Build Companies in the UK 2025
Of all the approaches in UK construction, design and build construction is the most widely used. The reason remains the same. Combine the architectural design and construction phases into one contractor, and the client has a single point of contact throughout the project. This unification comes with minimal delays and improved communication with cost control and enhanced creativity.
From creating skyscrapers and hospitals to office refurbishments, collaborating with the design and build companies in the UK at this level assures that the project will be completed both on time and to the quality standards. However, not all companies offer the same services.
To save you time, we have analyzed, compared, and created the ultimate 2025 list of the 10 best design and build companies in the UK, complete with their strengths, locations, and unique selling propositions (USPs).
1. Balfour Beatty
Location: London, UK
Specialities: Transport and Utilities, Strategic Partnerships, Large-Scale Infrastructure
Kier Group strives to provide the very best for their clients and promises results within its forecasted budget and deadline. With over a hundred years of experience under their belt, Balfour Beatty has proven time and time again that they are the go-to service. They have provided various transport and infrastructure projects, which include the HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel. In more recent years, they have developed
2. Kier Group
Location: Manchester, UK
Specialities: Transport, defence infrastructure, Education, and Healthcare
Like Balfour Bain, the Kier Group also provides a complete package deal under one umbrella. Incorporating other public services such as the NHS, schools and even defense mechanisms for national security. Sustainability has become a hot-button issue in the modern world. The framework “Building for a Sustainable World” propels Kier Group to the forefront of eco-friendly construction.
Integrating pioneering BIM (Building Information Modelling) technologies with foresight into futureproofing, Kier restores public infrastructure throughout the UK with unmatched ease and confidence.
3. Morgan Sindall
Location: London, UK
Specialities: Education, commercial, housing, civic buildings
Morgan Sindall Group have honed their reputation through the delivery of successful schemes which are practically functional and architecturally beautiful. Their design and build procurement makes sure that sustainability and value for money are prioritized. They are especially well known for their educational and civic buildings, where community impact is a primary focus. What makes Morgan Sindall stand out is their culture of innovation – routinely going beyond expectations, from low-carbon materials to through the use of smart digital tools, they make sure the spaces work well and not just look good.
4. Laing O’Rourke
Location: Dartford, Kent
Specialities: Healthcare and Commercial Projects, Offsite Modular Construction and Complex Engineering
Synonymous with ‘precision engineering’ and ‘design innovation’ and more, Laing O’Rourke continues to showcase their expertise in the health, rail, and commercial sectors – managing complexity at scale. Their integrated model utilizes offsite construction and digital design to improve timelines and quality, making them leading specialists in the UK’s DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) market. Some astounding projects include Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Heathrow Terminal 2, displaying their industry acumen.
5. Mace
Location: UK, London
Specialities: Mixed Use Schemes, High Rise Developments, Commercial Construction and Consultancy
Mace is known through the UK for bold architecture, having played a key role in the delivery of The Shard and Olympic Park. With unparalleled grit to creativity, Mace needle stitches construction discipline and delivers digitally through agile methodologies. Their flexibility permits them to impeccably work across public and private sectors, repeatedly exceeding expectations around speed and sustainability.
6. Galliford Try
Location: Uxbridge, UK
Specialities: Infrastructure, environmental projects, public sector construction
Galliford Try focuses on creating infrastructure that serves communities. They’re particularly strong in water, highways, and education construction, with design and build teams that understand both urban and rural constraints. What sets them apart is a deep commitment to reducing environmental impact. They focus on zero-waste targets and work closely with local authorities to ensure compliance and social value creation in every project. Their integrity and transparency have made them a trusted partner on many government frameworks.
7. Skanska UK
Location: Watford, UK
Specialities: Green building, smart infrastructure, hospitals, highways
Skanska UK, part of the global Skanska Group, brings strong values and technical ability to its projects. In the UK, they are well-known for sustainable hospitals and schools construction. They are the most aggressive and foremost in responsible building due to their low carbon construction techniques, high-performing building skins and digital construction. Skanska’s work on the Royal Papworth Hospital and the Brent Civic Centre are examples of sophisticated human centred high-tech constructions.
8. Tarmac
Location: Solihull, UK
Specialities: Building materials, road surfacing, logistics, civil engineering
Tarmac is well recognized for its construction materials but has also become a major player in the design and construction sector via integrated project delivery and engineering collaboration. Their unique vertical advantage is the ability to provide everything from aggregates and concrete to entire road networks. Clients have unparalleled control over quality and timelines, and Tarmac’s commitment to material decarbonisation optimises sustainability from the foundation.
9. Keller Group
Location: London, UK
Specialities: Ground engineering, piling, slope stabilisation, earth retention
Keller Group is the world’s most dominant company in geotechnical solutions and provides an entirely custom-built for difficult ground conditions. Keller’s experts guarantee safety and structural integrity whether it is a basement in Central London or a wind farm in the Highlands. They employ sophisticated soil characterization, design modelling, and in situ testing to provide tailored groundwork solutions — unmatched by most other contractors.
10. Bowmer & Kirkland
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Specialities: Commercial, industrial, leisure, education sectors
Design and build contractor companies in England are the most trusted, and Bowmer & Kirkland is the go-to family-owned firm. They boast of over 28 regional offices, which gives them a local and national knowledge network. This, combined with their extensive experience, makes them extremely versatile. They follow a comprehensive approach and focus on client satisfaction while ensuring high-quality user-centric design.
Conclusion
From multi-disciplinary engineering firms such as Balfour Beatty and Kier to ground specialists like Keller and reliable family businesses such as Bowmer & Kirkland, the UK has a rich design and build ecosystem. They work across many regions and have an established reputation, so no matter if your focus is on sustainability, innovation, or speed, the aforementioned companies will prove invaluable.
For the reason that there is low design and low-build capability, is the processes from choosing the firm and having the vision materialized with ease and precision. The firms operate with a high level of trust, ensuring the outcome will exceed expectations. With the UK’s increasing focus on substantially improving carbon footprints in construction, coupled with smart community and infrastructure development strategies, it is these firms which work at the forefront of the green shift.
FAQs
1. What does a design and build company do?
A design and build company undertakes both the construction and the architectural design, meaning that the company is a single point of contact for the client. This facilitates an end-to-end integration of the entire project.
2. Is design and build cheaper than traditional methods?
It can be. If one team handles both, there is bound to be less delay, less miscommunication, and better cost control.
3. Are design and build companies good for large projects?
Yes. A majority of the listed firms have successfully delivered massive infrastructure projects in addition to hospitals and commercial buildings using this methodology.
4. What industries use design and build in the UK?
It’s common in education, high-tech infrastructure, transport, housing, healthcare and even.
5. Is it possible to hire a design and build company for the refurbishment of my house?
Of Course. Bigger firms can provide the service, but it is the smaller or boutique firms which will be more adept at personal home renovations.
