The verdict in three sentences
A building services (MEP) engineering consultancy in London or Dublin sells to two very different audiences: developers racing against the planning and building control timetable, and landlords and asset managers facing minimum energy efficiency rules. An effective site speaks to them separately, with one page per regulation (Part L and SAP or SBEM, NZEB and BER in Ireland, MEES and EPCs, ESOS or EED audits) and a grant eligibility checker that turns a visit into a qualified enquiry. With compliance calculations billed at £1,200 to £5,000 or €1,400 to €5,500, two extra jobs a month pay for the site within weeks.
Two clienteles, two journeys on the site
The developer or architect submitting a scheme needs Part L calculations (SAP for dwellings, SBEM for non domestic) or, in Ireland, NZEB compliance and a BER, on a short timeline. They want a consultancy that can deliver the design stage output in 2 to 3 weeks and propose options to hit the Future Homes Standard or NZEB targets without blowing the build cost.
The commercial landlord, meanwhile, must keep let buildings above the MEES threshold in England and Wales, or report under ESOS and the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. They need a multi year partner: audit, action plan, monitoring. A site that blends both messages loses both readers.
| Service (2026 order of magnitude) | London, ex VAT | Dublin, ex VAT | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAP calculation, single dwelling | £300 to £700 | €400 to €900 (DEAP) | 1 week |
| Part L or NZEB, apartment block | £3,000 to £5,000 | €3,500 to €5,500 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| SBEM and EPC, commercial building | £1,200 to £4,000 | €1,400 to €4,500 | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Energy audit (ESOS or EED) | £3,000 to £10,000 | €3,500 to €12,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Landlord compliance retainer, per year | £2,500 to £8,000 | €3,000 to €9,000 | ongoing |
| Full MEP design | 2 to 5 % of works | 2 to 5 % of works | per project |
The grant eligibility checker as a conversion tool
The checker asks 6 to 8 questions: building type, floor area, year built, heating fuel, applicant status, planned works. It returns an estimate of applicable schemes (Boiler Upgrade Scheme or public sector decarbonisation funds in the UK, SEAI grants in Ireland) and offers a call. Since rules change every year, the checker must be editable without a developer.
This kind of tool typically converts 2 to 4 times better than a standard contact form, because the visitor gets an answer before giving their details. It must state clearly that the result is an indicative estimate.
What a consultancy website costs in 2026
London agencies charge £5,000 to £12,000 for an engineering consultancy site with regulation pages and a checker, Dublin agencies €6,000 to €14,000, in 7 to 10 weeks. The Kolonell showcase grid covers this scope in 5 to 7 weeks. Kolonell prices are set in EUR and FCFA and are not converted. If the checker needs advanced logic (database, PDF report), it becomes a simple custom application, 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR).
| Option | Budget | Timeline | Regulation pages | Grant checker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | £1,800 to £4,000 / €2,000 to €4,500 | 4 to 6 weeks | 2 to 3 | no |
| London or Dublin agency | £5,000 to £12,000 / €6,000 to €14,000 | 7 to 10 weeks | yes | yes |
| Kolonell showcase Starter | 1,220 to 1,830 EUR | 5 weeks | 4 pages | no |
| Kolonell showcase Growth | 1,830 to 3,050 EUR | 5 to 6 weeks | 6 pages, blog, analytics | guided form |
| Kolonell showcase Premium | 3,050 to 5,340 EUR | 6 to 7 weeks | 8 pages, advanced SEO | simple checker |
| Simple custom application | 3,810 to 6,100 EUR | per schedule | advanced checker with report |
Mini case study
Ciarán Byrne, managing director of a 12 engineer MEP consultancy in Dublin, receives 6 web enquiries a month, all for single dwelling DEAP and BER work, with an average ticket of €650. He wants to grow commercial landlord work, which carries better margins.
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After a rebuild with landlord compliance and audit pages plus the checker, the target is 3 extra commercial enquiries a month, 1 of them signed, at an average of €6,000 in year one. Annual gain: 12 × €6,000 = €72,000. Some of those clients stay on a multi year retainer, adding recurring revenue. Against a Premium site between 3,050 and 5,340 EUR and Standard maintenance at 114 EUR a month, 1,368 EUR a year, payback comes with the first signed commercial job.
FAQ
Should we publish prices for compliance calculations?
Ranges by building type help, especially for dwellings where clients compare 3 to 4 quotes. For commercial work an indicative range is enough, since the final fee depends on floor area and number of buildings.
Does the grant checker create liability?
Not if it is presented as an indicative estimate with a clear disclaimer. It must be updated whenever schemes change, usually once or twice a year.
How many regulation pages should we build?
At least 6: Part L or NZEB for dwellings, for apartment blocks, commercial EPCs, energy audits, landlord compliance and MEP design. Each page targets its own Google searches.
Can the site help us hire engineers?
Yes, building services engineers are among the hardest roles to fill in both London and Dublin. A careers page showing projects and software used lifts response rates to job ads.
How quickly do these pages rank?
Local searches like "SBEM calculations London" often rank within 2 to 4 months. A monthly SEO plan helps on more competitive commercial queries.
Let's scope your project. Regulation pages, separate developer and landlord journeys and a grant eligibility checker, delivered in 5 to 7 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
