DESIGNER GROUP’S STRATEGIC GROWTH IN
INTERNATIONAL M&E DELIVERY
Designer Group has evolved into one of Ireland’s most recognised Mechanical & Electrical companies, with a growing international footprint. Over three decades, the company has expanded from traditional building services into mission-critical sectors including data centres, energy infrastructure, and life sciences — and has done so with a consistent focus on technical excellence, client relationships, and investing in its people.
Group Managing Director and Co-Owner Paul Nicholls reflects on the journey: “We’ve been on a strong upward curve for a number of years, but our growth has always been grounded in our values. This past year, we focused on consolidating that progress — making sure we had the right structures, systems, and talent in place to support the next phase.”
In 2024, Designer Group delivered major projects across Europe, including significant data centre projects for a key client in the Nordics, as well as a new large-scale facility in Austria. “The Austrian data centre was a technically challenging project, and it demonstrates the level we’re now operating at internationally,” says Nicholls.
Back home, the business continues to support hyperscale clients in Ireland with complex packages, including the delivery of Energy centre on a major Dublin data centre campus. “These projects demand integrated M&E thinking,” he adds. “Our ability to bring that level of coordination and problem-solving to the table is a real differentiator.”
Designer Group is now active in ten markets across three continents, but its leadership remains focused on quality over volume. “We don’t chase turnover for its own sake,” says Nicholls. “We pursue opportunities where we know we can add genuine value — and that’s in sectors like data, energy, and life sciences.”
That technical focus is supported by a parallel investment in people. The business continues to attract senior expertise across Europe, while also nurturing its internal teams through structured development pathways. “Some of our most inspiring stories are people who started out on-site or in support roles and have grown into senior technical and leadership positions,” says Nicholls. “That’s what we want to build — a place where people are empowered to progress.”
Sustainability is another area where the company is setting the bar. From renewable energy systems and biomass solutions to on-site power generation for energy-intensive clients, Designer Group is delivering real carbon reductions. Internally, the company has committed to zero waste to landfill by 2026 and net-zero carbon by 2035. As Nicholls puts it: “The next chapter will be shaped by how we plan, how we deliver, and how we lead on decarbonisation and digital construction. We’re not standing still — but we’re staying true to who we are and what got us here.”
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
Email: michael@irishconstruction.com WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE