A Dunoon-based consulting civil and structural engineering practice is expanding with a new Oban office.

Cowal Design has opened its new office and has employed additional staff to help with the expansion.

The new Oban office will complement the work Cowal Design already has in the wider Oban area and help to generate more work to the north in areas such as Lochaber, Skye, Wester Ross and the Outer Hebrides. New staff recruited include an additional engineer and a support graduate/technician engineer.

Cowal Design has provided engineering services for a number of significant projects, such as Portavadie Marina Facilities Building and Letting Units and is Consulting Engineer for the prestigious European Marine Science Park at Dunstaffnage.


Since it began in 2005, the company has built a wide client base, operating primarily in Argyll and the Highlands but also in many other Council areas including Fife, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Perth & Kinross, North and East Ayrshire, East & West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde, North & South Lanarkshire and Glasgow City.

Neil Ferguson of Cowal Design, said: "We are delighted to be in a position to open a new office in Oban. As well as attracting new business, we are looking forward to continuing our excellent relationship with existing clients and other professionals, as well as developing future potential work in support of the company expansion."

Cowal Design is one of over 200 businesses in the region which Highlands and Islands Enterprise works alongside through its 'account management' model, designed to assist businesses to achieve their ambitions for growth.

David Smart, Head of Business Growth HIE's Argyll and the Islands area team, explained: "Cowal Design is very ambitious and its management are keen to invest in the growth of the business. HIE is working closely with the company to assist them in these aims and the new office in Oban will be a significant asset in winning new business as well as meeting customer demands."

(GK)