Celebrating two decades in business this year, Ferm Engineering Ltd has firmly established itself as a trusted name in Mechanical and Electrical services while steadily expanding its footprint in the renewable energy sector.
Founded in 2006 by Managing Director Jim McCabe, the family-run company has grown into a dynamic enterprise employing around 50 people, all while maintaining a strong commitment to quality, local employment, and innovation.
As the company marks its 20-year milestone, it is also entering an exciting new chapter with a renewed focus on sustainability through the launch of Ferm Renewables.
Spearheading this initiative is Director Maria McCabe Taylor, who recently joined the business, bringing with her a wealth of experience from the design, communications, and energy sectors.
Reflecting on the company’s steady growth, Maria told Building Ireland that Ferm Engineering has maintained a consistent upward trajectory in recent years.
This growth has been achieved while maintaining a strong emphasis on workforce stability and development.
“Business is growing and renewables are in demand. We’re focused on retaining our employees whilst continuing to grow the business and develop our client base. That’s important for us – to be able to retain our staff locally and to continue to bring on apprentices, grow them and keep them as well.”
That commitment to people has been a cornerstone of the business since its inception.
Over the past 20 years, Ferm Engineering has trained approximately 70 apprentices, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers within the company and the wider industry.
The firm continues to invest in the next generation of skilled workers, recognising the importance of developing talent locally—particularly in the north west, where attracting skilled labour can be challenging.
“We usually have a running average of around 50 direct employees. That doesn’t include subcontractors. We would have subcontractors on occasions as well,” Maria explained, highlighting the scale and flexibility of the company’s operations.
James McCabe, who leads the team out on the field, overseeing operations as Senior Projects Manager notes: ”Our client portfolio includes major names such as Abbott, IT Sligo, AbbVie and the HSE to name a few.”
Reflecting on its reputation for delivering high-quality work across a range of sectors, some of their project highlights include:
Abbott Diabetes Care Donegal – “We have been involved from the very start in various capacities of the BGM production lines, to the current Libre production facilities, and it has been a pleasure to watch the site more than double in size over 20 years.”
Abbott Nutrition, Sligo – “We have been working with Abbott Nutrition since 2009 when they were located in Ballytivnan, Sligo. We were heavily involved in there new facility construction in 2018 and are still proud to be carrying out various projects to this day.”
AbbVie, Ballytivnan Sligo. – “We came on board with AbbVie since their formation in 2013 and we’re proud to deliver many projects and provide a valuable service to them.”
HSE – “We have been hired for many projects in the Northwest including Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals and also various community hospitals throughout the Northwest.
“And additionally, in the recent past we have delivered three Primary Care Centres (Drumcliff & Grange in Co. Sligo and Newtown Cunnigham, Co. Donegal.)”
Education- “Ferm has worked in over 20 plus schools within the Northwest in the last 20 years, both Primary and Post Primary, from various Extensions to Heating/LED upgrades/PV installations
“We are proud to have worked on Sligo, Letterkenny & Killybegs ATU campus’s on various projects.”
Commercial – ”We were also delighted to be involved in the first ‘Supermac Plaza’ to come to Co. Donegal in 2018.
“Other commercial projects have been with SuperValu, Centra, Aldi, Lough Eske Castle, Abbey Hotel, Central Hotel , Donegal Credit Union and many more.”
Donegal County Council – Milford + Letterkenny PS Centre
“The Mechanical and Electrical services remain a core part of the business and we’re grateful to our clients in trusting in us and thankful to our team for their great work.
“With Ferm’s 20 year anniversary milestone in 2026, it feels like the right time to really showcase and launch a renewable energy division with the setup of a new sister company. With the ongoing popularity, growth and need for sustainable and future proofed living, we’re speaking to a different audience than our commercial clientele.”
Maria’s arrival at Ferm Engineering comes at what she describes as the “perfect time,” both personally and professionally. With 15 years of experience across agencies and start-ups, followed by eight years in the energy sector with Energia, she brings a valuable perspective to the company’s evolving strategy.
“I officially joined the company recently in January. My background is in design and communications, so I’ve come onboard with 15 years of experience working in start-ups, digital companies, advertising agencies and most recently I worked in the energy industry for the last eight years,” she said.
Her appointment coincides with the creation of Ferm Renewables, a new division that reflects the company’s long-term commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
“The direction with setting up the new company which is going to trade as ‘Ferm Renewables’, operating under the FERM brand that we have recognition for will bring more structure to Ferm, allowing us to position ourselves uniquely in the market,” Maria outlined.
“My father was an early adopter of solar energy technology, installing solar thermal since 2006 along with other energy efficient solutions. So to see the transition and evolution of solar energy to solar PV now is incredibly encouraging and exciting.
“Jim and James have worked arduously over the years to build this business and keep it strong through all the challenges and I hope to mirror their drive and work ethic with the Renewables business.”
Under this structure, the traditional M&E side of the business will continue under the leadership of Jim and James McCabe. Meanwhile, Maria will take the lead on renewable energy initiatives, driving the company’s expansion in this rapidly growing sector.
“We’re going to be the same group, the same company and it’s a bit of a rebranding project that’s on the cards for this year. The M&E side of things is going to stick with Jim and James, and I’m going to be taking over the renewable sides of things,” she said.
“We’ve had a huge focus on solar PV over the last five years, EV chargers as well, so all of those are going to fall under the Ferm Renewables side of the business.”
This focus is well-timed, as demand for renewable energy solutions continues to rise across Ireland.
Over the past five years, Ferm Engineering has built significant expertise in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and electric vehicle infrastructure, completing a wide range of projects for both commercial and domestic clients.
One standout project involved the installation of a large-scale solar PV system at Donegal Credit Union. Working in collaboration with Glebe Builders, Ferm Engineering delivered the full M&E contract for the building, including the installation of more than 150 solar panels.
“The Donegal Town Credit Union has been quite essentially solar energy self-sufficient since then, which is great to see,” Maria stated, pointing to the tangible impact of the company’s work.
The firm has also completed notable projects at Letterkenny ATU, while continuing to grow its presence in the domestic market.
“The majority of our Solar PV installs are domestic. We’ve completed more than 80 residential projects, and that’s not including contracted out Solar PV jobs. The demand and appetite is there and it is growing faster in recent years with the support of the SEAI grants and the cost of smart batteries coming in more competitive,” she said.
Ferm Renewables is designed to build on this momentum, offering customers a comprehensive, end-to-end service. From sourcing solar panels locally in Ireland to handling grant applications in-house, the company aims to make the transition to renewable energy as seamless as possible for its clients.
“We really want to offer a great product. We want to see customers save money and we love it when we get that feedback coming in. We offer a premium product and service at a competitive price as we do all the work ourselves. It’s important to always choose a local installer for the best price with no added margins.” Maria said.
“Some customers are sending us their bills and showing us that they’ve saved hundreds of euros within a few months of their install going live. That’s very important and, as a local family-run company, those are the values that are important to us – to offer fair pricing and a great premium product.”
Despite the opportunities in the renewable energy sector, challenges remain—particularly when it comes to staffing. Like many companies operating in rural areas such as the north west, Ferm Engineering faces ongoing difficulties in recruiting skilled tradespeople and engineers.
In response, the company has spent the past year building a dedicated renewables team to support its expanding operations.
“We’re always on the lookout for talented, qualified, or apprentice plumbers, electricians, general labourers, and engineers to come onboard with us here,” Maria stated.
As Ferm Engineering celebrates its 20th anniversary, the milestone provides an opportunity to reflect not only on the company’s achievements but also on the people who have made its success possible.
Long-serving employees, such as Stephanie Kyles—who has been with the company for almost two decades—are a testament to the strong culture and sense of loyalty that define the business.
“One of our first employees that we hired was Stephanie Kyles. She’s been with us almost 20 years and she’s brought great organisation, consistency and loyalty to the business,” Maria said. “Along with Stephanie, we would have a lot of other employees that would be with us for 10 plus years, so I think it’s important to point out the fact that it’s a team effort. It’s not just my father or my brother; it’s everyone coming together with passion and dedication to their role at Ferm Eng.”
To mark the 20th anniversary, the company is planning a celebratory event later in the year.
“We’ll probably do an end of summer BBQ or party to celebrate the milestone,” Maria added.
Looking ahead, Ferm Engineering’s future appears firmly rooted in sustainability, innovation, and continued growth.
With Ferm Renewables leading the charge into the green energy space, the company is well positioned to play a key role in Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon future—while staying true to the family values and community focus that have underpinned its success for the past 20 years.
Ferm Engineering Ltd
Ardeskin,
Donegal Town,
Co Donegal
Tel: +353 74 9740768
Email: [email protected]
Web: fermeng.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August 2026, Vol 12 No 8
