The verdict in three sentences
A serious website for an engineering design office in London (structural, MEP, aerospace) should be budgeted at EUR 6,000 to 16,000 excl. VAT in 2026 (roughly GBP 5,100 to 13,700), delivered in 7 to 10 weeks. The page that pays back most is case studies with hard numbers, because 70% of B2B buyers look at your website before they ever call you. If you hire engineers, add a careers page connected to an ATS for about EUR 1,500: it is often the fastest investment to pay for itself.
What you are actually buying: three budget levels
Price depends less on page count than on the depth of technical content and integrations. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for a design office of 10 to 80 people.
| Level | Budget excl. VAT | Content | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | EUR 6,000 to 8,000 | 8 to 10 pages, 3 references, contact form | 6 to 7 weeks |
| Standard | EUR 9,000 to 12,000 | 15 to 20 pages, 6 to 10 case studies, technical blog | 7 to 9 weeks |
| Advanced | EUR 13,000 to 16,000 | 25+ pages, bilingual, sector filters, careers + ATS | 9 to 10 weeks |
| ATS careers page option | +EUR 1,500 | Synced job ads (Teamtailor, Greenhouse, Workable) | +1 week |
| Second language option | +20 to 30% | Technical translation reviewed by an engineer | +1 to 2 weeks |
| Annual maintenance | EUR 900 to 2,400 | Updates, backups, monitoring, small changes | Ongoing |
A design office bidding for tier-one contractors or infrastructure clients almost always needs Standard at minimum: a buyer or technical lead wants to see projects comparable to theirs, with figures.
The pages that reassure a main contractor
A technical director shortlisting three design offices looks for proof, not slogans. These pages move the contact rate.
| Page | What it must show | Estimated impact |
|---|---|---|
| Quantified case studies | Context, constraint, solution, result (weight saved, time, cost) | Contact rate x1.5 to x2 |
| Skills by sector | Structural, MEP, aerospace, energy, with standards mastered | Better ranking on trade queries |
| Certifications and tools | ISO 9001, AS/EN 9100, CATIA, ANSYS, Revit, BIM | Passing pre-qualification grids |
| Team and organisation | Lead engineers, years of experience, chartered status | Credibility in tenders |
| Careers | Current openings, career paths, staff stories, 2-minute application | Cost per hire down 20 to 30% |
| Qualified contact | Form with project type, timeline, indicative budget | Better-sorted leads, less wasted time |
Content is the real bottleneck. Allow 2 to 3 hours of interviews with your project leads per case study. An agency writing them from those interviews typically charges EUR 250 to 450 per case study, included in Kolonell's Standard level.
Hiring engineers: the second return on investment
In London, the market for structural engineers and CAD technicians remains tight in 2026. A recruitment agency typically charges 15 to 25% of the annual gross salary, i.e. GBP 9,000 to 15,000 for an engineer on GBP 60,000. A clear careers page linked to your ATS and ranking for "structural engineer jobs London" generates direct applications. Two direct hires a year are enough to pay for the whole website.
Mini case study
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James, managing director of a 35-person structural and MEP design office in London, chooses the Advanced level at EUR 14,500 with the ATS option at EUR 1,500, i.e. EUR 16,000 excl. VAT. Over the following year, the site generates 22 qualified enquiries versus 9 before, including 3 signed contracts with an average margin of EUR 18,000, i.e. EUR 54,000 of margin. On hiring, 2 engineers join without an agency, avoiding about EUR 20,000 in fees. Estimated result: EUR 74,000 of value for EUR 16,000 invested, payback in under 4 months.
FAQ
How much does a design office website cost in London in 2026?
Plan for EUR 6,000 to 16,000 excl. VAT (about GBP 5,100 to 13,700) depending on case studies, a second language and ATS integration. Most offices of 20 to 50 people land around EUR 10,000 to 12,000.
What timeline should we expect?
Between 7 and 10 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks for technical content. Delays almost always come from internal sign-off of case studies, not from development.
Can we publish references covered by an NDA?
Yes, by anonymising the client ("tier-one aerospace supplier") and keeping the result figures. An anonymised but quantified case study converts better than a logo alone.
Is the ATS-linked careers page worth EUR 1,500?
For an office hiring more than 2 people a year, yes. A single direct hire avoids GBP 9,000 or more in agency fees.
What does maintenance cost after launch?
Allow EUR 900 to 2,400 a year for hosting, security, backups and minor changes. An unmaintained site loses speed and rankings within 12 to 18 months.
Let's scope your project. Send us your sectors, the number of references to showcase and your hiring needs: we will price a site between EUR 6,000 and 16,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 7 to 10 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.
