Why outsourcing your electrical design makes business sense

How our small consultancy can deliver faster, smarter, more cost-effective results.

In today’s fast-moving construction and engineering landscape, companies are under constant pressure to deliver high-quality projects on tighter budgets and shorter timelines. Yet many organisations still struggle with the same bottleneck: finding the expertise, time, and resources to produce reliable, compliant electrical designs and drawings.

That’s where strategic outsourcing can transform the way you work.

Partnering with a specialist electrical design consultancy isn’t just a matter of convenience — it’s a smart business move that reduces risk, improves efficiency, and gives you access to skills and capabilities that are often difficult or expensive to maintain in-house.

Here’s how your organisation can benefit too.

1. Reduce costs without reducing quality

Hiring full-time electrical design engineers is costly. Salaries, training, software licenses, continuing professional development, holiday cover, pensions — it all adds up. For many companies, especially those with fluctuating workloads, the numbers simply don’t make sense.

Outsourcing removes these fixed costs.

You pay only for the work you need, when you need it. At the same time, you get access to qualified specialists equipped with the latest CAD, and calculation software — tools that many organisations don’t want to invest in themselves.

Practical example:

A medium-size M&E contractor needed full electrical schematics and cable calculations for a commercial fit-out project. Their in-house team was already stretched and couldn’t justify hiring a designer for just one project. By outsourcing, they saved around 40% compared to employing a full-time designer and avoided weeks of delay.

2. Scale your capacity instantly

When workloads spike — new tenders, overlapping projects, last-minute design changes — internal teams often hit a capacity limit.

Outsourcing gives you instant scalability.

You can increase your design output immediately without recruitment, onboarding, or overtime costs. Whether you need assistance for a single package or long-term partnership support, the flexibility is invaluable.

Practical example:

A building services consultancy won several school refurbishment projects at once. Instead of turning down work, they outsourced the electrical design packages (lighting layouts, small power, containment, and distribution). This allowed them to deliver all projects on time and win additional contracts that they otherwise would have had to decline.

3. Access to specialist expertise on demand

Electrical design is broad — LV distribution, lighting controls, fire alarm integration, energy efficiency, renewables, EV charging… No single in-house engineer can specialise in everything.

By working with an external consultancy, you tap into a wider pool of expertise that strengthens the quality and reliability of your designs.

Practical example:

A property developer wanted to incorporate EV charging into a residential block but lacked the in-house knowledge to calculate load diversity, DNO impact, and smart charging strategies. An outsourced consultant delivered the full design package and liaised with the DNO, enabling the client to adopt a compliant and future-proof solution.

4. Reduce project risk and improve compliance

Electrical regulations change frequently — BS 7671 updates, fire safety standards, energy efficiency requirements, and local authority expectations. Ensuring compliance is crucial for avoiding costly redesigns or site issues.

A dedicated electrical consultancy keeps up with the latest standards every day, giving you a built-in compliance safeguard.

Practical example:

During a warehouse extension, an outsourced consultant spotted a compliance issue in the client’s initial concept relating to emergency lighting escape routes. Correcting it early saved the contractor thousands in potential rework and ensured smooth sign-off with Building Control.

5. Faster turnarounds and fewer bottlenecks

Specialist consultancies work efficiently because electrical design is their sole focus. No internal meetings, no departmental delays — just streamlined production backed by proven workflows.

This means faster turnaround times, helping you meet client demands and stay competitive.Practical example:A facilities management company needed urgent electrical drawings to support a maintenance tender. By outsourcing, they received the full set of drawings within 48 hours — allowing them to submit on time and win the contract.

6. Free up your team to focus on what they do best

Your team should be spending their time on revenue-generating activities: project management, client relationships, site coordination, and winning new work.

Outsourcing takes the detailed design burden off their shoulders, allowing them to operate at their best.

Conclusion: outsourcing isn’t a cost — it’s an advantage!

For UK businesses facing skills shortages, rising project demands, and increasing regulatory pressure, outsourcing electrical design is more than a convenience. It’s a strategic move that:

 Saves money

 Increases capacity

 Improves compliance

 Speeds up delivery

 Reduces risk

 Strengthens your technical offering

Whether you need full design packages, support during peak workloads, or specialist expertise for complex projects, partnering with our small and friendly consultancy can make your business more agile, more competitive, and more profitable. Why not give us a shout to discuss your next project?