The verdict in three sentences
In Edinburgh, a website for an engineering and construction firm built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 8 000 and 30 000 GBP, and more for a multi-office group with a bespoke extranet or candidate portal. Kolonell builds the project references, the capability and qualification pages and the careers section at a fixed price: 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth. The comparison that matters is the total cost over three years, the question of site photography (a Scottish agency can arrange it on site, Kolonell cannot) and how each quote handles client references and prequalification documents.
What do Edinburgh agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are cautious and indicative. They draw on public price lists from Scottish agencies, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles of Edinburgh and Glasgow agencies, hourly rates published by local agencies (often 70 to 120 GBP per hour) and rates visible on Upwork or PeoplePerHour. Scope moves the numbers: number of case studies, sectors covered, offices, integrations.
| Criterion | Edinburgh agency | Scottish freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 order of magnitude | 8 000 to 30 000 GBP and up | 2 000 to 7 000 GBP | 2 300 GBP, 3 900 GBP or 6 900 GBP, fixed price |
| Out-of-scope work | Often 70 to 120 GBP per hour | Often 35 to 70 GBP per hour | Quoted in writing before work starts |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Site photography and drone | Sometimes offered as an option | Rarely | Not included: your photos or a local photographer |
| Case study copywriting | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % on delivery. A project manager stays reachable in your time zone: Google Meet calls at a time that suits you and a written update every week. The team works from Senegal (GMT), so it shares Edinburgh's clock in winter and sits one hour behind during British Summer Time. Package details are on our international websites page.
Which three-year cost should you actually compare?
An engineering practice keeps adding project references, posting vacancies and updating certifications. The table assumes identical maintenance on both sides, because Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately.
| Item over 36 months | Edinburgh agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 18 000 GBP | 3 900 GBP |
| Support after launch | Per contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 120 GBP per month for 33 months, i.e. 3 960 GBP | 3 960 GBP, quoted separately |
| Six new case studies over three years | 10 hours at 95 GBP, i.e. 950 GBP | Quoted before work, assumption 700 GBP |
| Site photographer | Agency option, 1 200 GBP | Local photographer booked separately, 1 200 GBP |
| Indicative total | 24 110 GBP | 9 760 GBP |
Use this table as a reading grid. Ask every supplier to fill it in with the same assumptions and the real gap becomes visible.
What does each package include for an engineering firm?
| Element | Starter 2 300 GBP | Growth 3 900 GBP | Premium 6 900 GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capability pages | Main disciplines (structural, civil, geotechnical) | One page per discipline and per sector | Full structure, several offices |
| Project references | Project gallery | Case studies filterable by sector | Detailed case studies, downloadable project sheets |
| Qualifications and accreditations | Single page | Detailed page with downloadable documents | Document area for prequalification |
| Recruitment | Careers page | Structured job listings | Listings per office; bespoke candidate portal quoted separately |
| Bilingual FR/EN version | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written plan at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A client extranet, a supplier portal or online project tracking is a custom application, quoted separately, and so is ongoing search optimisation work.
What does an Edinburgh engineering firm's website need?
The local market mixes several kinds of client: residential and commercial developers, public bodies that advertise contracts on Public Contracts Scotland, the renewables supply chain, notably offshore wind, and refurbishment work in the Old and New Towns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Buyers check the website before shortlisting a bidder; the engineers you want to hire do the same.
- References published with the client's consent: project name, the firm's exact role, scope, dates. If a client declines to be named, describe the project anonymously.
- Accurate qualifications: chartered status of individual engineers, ICE or IStructE membership, quality or environmental certifications the firm actually holds. Wording must match each person's real status.
- A factual health and safety page: the firm's role under CDM 2015 (designer, principal designer), accreditations held, a downloadable policy.
- Documents ready for prequalification: quality, environmental and health and safety policies, current and dated.
- A serious careers section: many practices are short of engineers, and the site recruits as much as it sells.
- A short enquiry form by project type that routes the request to the right director.
On compliance, stick to facts. Forms and job applications (CVs) fall under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018: retention periods, candidate information, choice of form provider. The Equality Act 2010 applies to online services, and public clients often ask for accessibility in line with WCAG 2.2 AA, the technical reference used here. Scotland has its own building standards system, which concerns your content more than the website itself. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Which warning signs should you look for in a quote?
- No references section planned, or a plain gallery with no role or scope for the firm.
- Copywriting excluded: without case study text, the project stalls for months.
- Domain or hosting registered to the agency, with no transfer clause.
- A bespoke candidate portal sold by default when a well-structured careers page would do.
- No answer on accessibility even though you bid for public contracts.
- A mandatory maintenance contract over several years with no way to take back control.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Fraser M., managing director of a 25-person civil and structural engineering practice in Leith, receives two proposals. An Edinburgh agency quotes 21 000 GBP, delivery in 14 weeks, with site photography as a 1 200 GBP option. Kolonell offers the Growth package at 3 900 GBP in 4 weeks; Fraser books a local photographer used to site safety inductions himself, for 1 200 GBP.
Build and photos: 22 200 GBP against 5 100 GBP, a gap of 17 100 GBP. With the same maintenance assumption of 3 960 GBP on each side over 33 months, the three-year totals come to 26 160 GBP against 9 060 GBP. Fraser picks Kolonell for the marketing site and keeps the local agency in mind if the firm ever launches a client portal with project tracking.
FAQ
How much does an engineering firm website cost in Edinburgh in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, expect 8 000 to 30 000 GBP with a local agency and 2 000 to 7 000 GBP with a freelancer. Kolonell has three fixed prices: 2 300, 3 900 and 6 900 GBP.
Can Kolonell photograph our sites?
No, we do not shoot photos or video on location. You supply your images or book a local photographer, often 800 to 1 500 GBP per day depending on access and safety requirements.
Can we name clients without their consent?
It is wise to get the client's written consent before publishing its name or images. Build that sign-off into the plan: it often takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Can the website handle job applications?
The Growth package at 3 900 GBP includes structured job listings with an application form. A full candidate portal with application tracking is a custom application, quoted separately.
What delivery time should we plan for?
Starter and Growth are delivered in 3 to 4 weeks if content arrives on time. Premium, at 6 900 GBP, follows a written plan agreed at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your disciplines, five to ten references you are cleared to publish and your current site address, and you will receive a fixed-price Starter, Growth or Premium proposal with a 3 to 4 week schedule. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
