In just three years, DECO has achieved tenfold growth in turnover by delivering unrivalled electrical and mechanical engineering services. The Navan-headquartered company’s commitment to excellence has been recognised with a nomination in the highly-competitive ‘Subcontractor of the Year’ category of the 2025 Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards.
Launched in 2014, the Irish Construction Industry (ICI) Awards recognise, encourage and celebrate original and innovative contractors, businesses, teams, consultants and projects that demonstrate excellence in the built environment. Combining decades of industry experience with a commitment to safety, quality and innovation, and creating a foundation for excellence in every aspect of its operations, DECO is a worthy finalist as it continues to go from strength to strength under the direction of founder Declan Donnelly and Managing Director Darran Monaghan.
Since its inception in 2022, DECO – which is an acronym for Donnelly Engineering Company – has grown exponentially to employ 400 people across 11 countries where it provides services in areas such as Data Centres, Life Sciences, Industrial Manufacturing and Energy. Declan and Darran are well-versed in the construction industry and have surrounded themselves with people that add to their decades of experience on every project.
“Our people and our values drive our success, ensuring we deliver exceptional results for clients across Europe,” says Declan Donnelly.
“Our success today is built on the strength of our team – from Site Engineers, Electricians, Plumbers, General Operatives, Site Administrators, Health & Safety Officers, BIM Coordinators, and Construction Managers on the ground, to the full back-office support team in Ireland. We have also assembled a highly experienced Senior Management team, with a proven track record working with Tier 1 contractors on hyperscale projects across Europe.”
Darran Monaghan added: “Between our direct employees and subcontractors, we have significant capacity to undertake work quickly and efficiently. Along with this, there are an additional 200 trade resources that are available to be mobilised at short notice if required. We have the experience and expertise to undertake large-scale projects.
“We specialise in general services and containment, small power and lighting, and have off-site manufacturing and cable installation capabilities. In our first year, our turnover was €6 million. It’s now over €20 million and we’re projecting to grow that to €100 million per annum over the coming years.
“We’ve completed projects for data centre and pharma clients across Europe in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, UK and Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Germany”
DECO recently hosted its first company strategy event at Johnstown Estate, bringing together key staff from both site and office. The event marked an important milestone as the leadership team unveiled the new DECO 2030 Strategy, setting out the company’s long-term vision and growth plans. The gathering fostered collaboration, alignment, and a shared sense of purpose as DECO looks ahead to the future.
With offices in Navan and Magherafelt, DECO has successfully implemented and maintains a robust Integrated Management System (IMS) that is certified to meet the stringent standards of ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management and ISO 45001:2018 for occupational Health & Safety.
Created with consistency in mind, DECO delivers high-quality work through deliberate and effective operations. Achieving operational excellence is key to its reputation, exceeding clients’ expectations and sustained growth.
To this end, Project Planning and Delivery, Procurement and Supplier Relationships, and Project Debrief and Lessons Learned, are key. When it comes to Project Planning and Delivery, the company uses tried and tested project planning tools and sustains clear communication with staff, suppliers, subcontractors and clients as early as possible to ensure alignment. Weekly progress calls between the office and site are held to maintain progress along with calls with client operations teams to discuss any issues before they become problems.
DECO has developed relationships with key suppliers and manufacturers which allow it to offer competitive prices and dependable lead times to clients. Early engagement with suppliers helps with supply chain constraints. Bulk purchasing where possible allows for lower costs and consistency across projects.
Health & Safety is of paramount importance to DECO Engineering – from launch the company implemented a ‘Speak Up, Stay Safe’ initiative. DECO considers Health & Safety in every conversation and meeting. From toolbox talks on site to project meetings, safety is a part of routine. General Manager Jamie Woolhead said, ‘“At DECO, safety isn’t just a box to tick — it’s a culture. Our ‘Speak Up, Stay Safe’ initiative empowers everyone, from site teams to management, to prioritise wellbeing and speak openly about potential risks. It’s about making sure every colleague goes home safe at the end of the day.”
At the conclusion of every project, the project and operations team review the lessons that can be learned. DECO is continuously refining its project delivery strategies, adapting to new technologies and improving scheduling. In addition, the company has developed strong and efficient operations which allows it to offer consistency, high-quality works and an effective proactive strategy to clients.
As an agile electrical and mechanical contractor, DECO recognises the benefits of using innovative materials and methods to provide clients with efficiency, quality, safety and sustainability. It is this agility that allows the team to adapt quickly and implement new strategies, setting DECO apart from larger companies.
The company’s innovation encompasses Prefabrication and Modular Solutions, Smarter Electrical Installations and Digital Design. Using its off-site manufacturing facilities, DECO prefabricates containment runs and mechanical assemblies. This off-site assembly gives it a tighter control on quality and cuts down on working at height in confined spaces that can raise safety risks.
When the leading electrical and mechanical engineering specialist designs an electrical installation, it recommends programmable lighting sensors and LED drivers. In doing so, it helps clients to save on energy costs and to future-proof installations.
Furthermore, DECO Engineering uses on-site BIM stations to allow staff view the live 3D model to ensure installations are right first time and where there are clashes, they can be documented instantly. This reduces downtime and reworks.
Strong, enduring relationships with clients are the basis of the business. DECO takes great pride in meeting deadlines, staying within budget and offering exceptional personal advice. Its high client retention reflects the success of this strategy and commitment to it.
From the start of a project through to its conclusion, the company supports direct and open communication with clients. They collaborate with decision makers thanks to DECO’s hands-on and responsive approach. This allows the team to address any concerns instantly and meet their needs.
Looking to the future, DECO remains committed to its core values of safety, quality, innovation, and people. With a clear vision set out in its DECO 2030 Strategy, a highly-skilled team, and an unwavering focus on delivering excellence, the company is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth across Europe and beyond.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.decoeng.ie
DECO Engineering – Ireland Office
Unit 10,
Navan Enterprise Centre,
Trim Road,
Navan,
Co. Meath,
C15 H29A.
Telephone: +353 12 210 411
DECO Engineering – Northern Ireland Office & Workshop
Ronan Valley Business Park,
Magherafelt,
Co. Derry,
BT45 6FP.
Telephone: +44 28 7903 2009
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, March 2026, Vol 12 No 3
