'Significant milestone' for Co Down engineering consultancy as it becomes employee-owned business
An engineering consultancy has become Northern Ireland’s twentieth employee-owned business, marking a milestone moment for the company
Design ID Consulting Limited, with offices in Royal Hillsborough, London and Dublin, has confirmed its transition as it celebrates 20 years in business.
The move will see the company transfer a controlling shareholding into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). This means it will be owned on behalf of its employees while continuing to operate under its existing leadership team.
Employee ownership is a structured succession model. Instead of selling to a third party, owners can transfer shares to a trust that holds them for the benefit of employees. The business continues to operate as normal, with leadership in place, while ownership transitions over time.
Founded in 2005 by Ian Douglas, with Jonathan Macauley joining in 2007, Design ID has grown into one of the province’s leading independent structural, civil and infrastructure engineering consultancies, delivering projects across a range of sectors.
Ian Douglas, founder and managing director, said: “Design ID has always been about people and how we work together. Employee ownership allows us to protect that as we plan for the future. It provides continuity for our clients and creates a structure where our team has a genuine stake in what comes next.”
Jonathan Macauley, managing director, said: “This is about recognising the contribution of our team and putting in place a structure that supports the next phase of the business. It strengthens accountability and gives our people a clear sense of ownership in the long-term success of Design ID.”
The transition reflects a growing trend among business owners considering succession options, particularly those seeking to retain independence while securing the future of their company.
Karen Maguire, chair of Employee Ownership Ireland, said: “Reaching 20 employee-owned businesses in Northern Ireland is a significant milestone. It shows that more owners are actively considering structured succession options that protect their business, their people and their legacy.
“What Design ID has done is a great example of a planned transition. The business continues to operate as normal, but ownership is aligned with the people who contribute to its success every day. That is increasingly relevant for many privately owned companies.”