Tayside-based civil engineering and groundworks contractor, Kilmac, continues to expand its coverage into central Scotland
Kilmac is a leading civil engineering and groundworks company based in Dundee, Scotland. Established in 2004, by Athole McDonald and Richard Kilcullen, Kilmac has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, cost-effective solutions across a wide range of projects. The company specialises in civil engineering services such as foundations, drainage, roadworks, and service utilities, and has successfully completed significant projects, including work on Madras College and the Broughty Ferry Flood Prevention Scheme.
In recent years, Kilmac has expanded its operations, opening new offices in Livingston and Dunfermline to better serve clients across central Scotland. This growth is aligned with its vision of becoming a key player in the region’s construction and civil engineering sectors.
Strategic move
Kilmac operates with a strong commitment to transparency, safety, and inclusivity, aiming to exceed client expectations on every project. The company is also focused on long-term sustainability, reflected in its work on cutting-edge projects like the Dunfermline Learning Campus, a landmark in sustainable construction. With nearly two decades of experience, Kilmac continues to grow, driven by a dedicated team and a commitment to excellence in every aspect of its business.
“I think the turnover in year one was about £1.4 million,” begins Athole McDonald, Director. “Since then, we’ve grown progressively to our current turnover which is approximately £26 million.”
Kilmac is a leading groundworks and civil engineering contractor offering a wide range of services tailored to the construction industry. The company’s approach ensures that all projects are delivered with a focus on quality, safety, and sustainability, meeting the unique needs of each client and contributing to the community’s overall development.
“The majority of the works we now do are infrastructure for schools and hospitals, those kind of larger footprint areas,” he elaborates. “On top of that, we do flood defence works, for example, and high spec hard landscaping projects, but fundamentally, those school and hospital projects are our bread and butter.”
Kilmac’s expansion into Dunfermline has significantly boosted its operations and growth in Scotland. By opening a new office in Dunfermline’s Pitreavie Business Park, Kilmac has established a stronger presence in the Central Belt, allowing it to tap into new markets and secure prestigious contracts beyond its traditional Tayside and Fife base. This strategic move has not only expanded the company’s geographical reach but also facilitated the acquisition of major clients and projects in the area.
Hands-on learning
The new Dunfermline office serves as a base for 20 staff members and supports the company’s growing portfolio, including the ground-breaking £100 million Dunfermline Learning Campus project. This expansion is part of Kilmac’s broader strategy to position itself as a leader in Scotland’s civil engineering and construction sectors, ensuring long-term sustainability and continued growth.
Kilmac is committed to contributing to the communities in which it operates. “A standout community project of which we’re particularly proud is the Perth High School ‘Taster into Construction’ programme,” he shares. “Kilmac partnered with Robertson Construction Tayside and Perth High School to introduce S3 pupils to the construction industry through a hands-on learning experience. This initiative provided students with practical skills and insight into potential careers in construction, fostering the next generation of industry professionals.”
Community commitment
Another notable project is maintenance of the Riverside Park Gardens. Kilmac supports the Riverside Park Gardens initiative, helping to maintain various garden beds around the city. This voluntary project, made possible through the generosity of sponsors, ensures that the city’s green spaces remain beautiful year-round, contributing to the well-being of the local community.
“Kilmac is also dedicated to developing local talent through our apprenticeship and graduate apprenticeship programmes. These initiatives provide young people with valuable skills and employment opportunities in the construction industry, helping to build a stronger, more resilient local workforce. These projects exemplify our commitment to creating lasting positive impacts in the communities we serve. Through collaboration and a focus on social value, we aim to make a difference beyond the construction site.”
With a focus on modern methods of building, Kilmac was involved in the first project in Scotland to implement Passivhaus standards. Continuing its relationship with Robertson Construction Group, Kilmac completed the groundwork’s package for the first Passivhaus primary school in Scotland, which replaced the existing North Muirton and Balhousie Primary Schools.
“The design was not without its issues from a buildability point of view,” Athole continues, “but we learned through that experience, and so, every school we’ve done since has benefited from our refined buildability process. As one of Scotland’s first contractors to implement those standards, we’re probably the country’s most experienced groundworker for the installation of Passivhaus design.
“The implementation of Passivhaus standards significantly enhances energy efficiency and sustainability by prioritising building performance criteria. These standards focus on creating highly insulated, airtight structures with superior thermal performance and minimal energy loss. By optimising natural heating and cooling, and incorporating high-performance windows and ventilation systems, Passivhaus buildings reduce reliance on conventional heating and cooling systems. This not only lowers energy consumption and operational costs but also minimises the building’s carbon footprint, contributing to long-term environmental sustainability.”
This commitment to sustainability is also woven throughout the company’s internal operations. “At Kilmac, in collaboration with our Tier 1 clients, we have committed to the Supply Chain Sustainability School, where we currently hold Gold Standard status and are actively working towards Platinum. This partnership provides us with the tools to calculate and report our carbon footprint accurately, allowing us to identify and target the specific areas within our organisation that can have the greatest impact on reducing emissions.
“In addition, we are ISO 14001 certified, with our environmental management system audited twice a year. One of our key focus areas is the efficiency of our construction plant. We have made significant investments in the latest Cat 5 excavators and have gone a step further by incorporating a fuel active system. This system is expected to save approximately 30 tons of CO₂ annually, while also reducing our fuel costs.
“Over a decade ago, we made a forward-thinking investment in our own turbine, which produces renewable energy. This has been a major contributor to our progress towards becoming nearly carbon neutral. We were also among the first in the industry to introduce electric vehicles for all our senior staff, demonstrating our commitment to reducing emissions across all levels of our operations.
“Looking ahead, we are planning to equip our two main offices with solar panels. We are also engaging with our supply chain to assess their sustainability efforts and explore opportunities to integrate their initiatives into our own processes, as well as those of our clients,” he affirms. 
Kilmac’s company culture is built around shared goals and a commitment to employee growth and development. From a small town and modest beginnings, Kilmac has developed into a successful civil engineering business with a strong sense of community. “Our goal,” he elaborates, “is to be a high performing civil engineering and groundworks business by working collaboratively and forming strong relationships with our clients, supply chain and staff so that they continue to work with us.
Future development
“When it comes to retaining staff, we invest heavily in professional development and wellbeing. Kilmac provides ongoing training for all staff and mentorship programmes for trainees. We currently have five trainee engineers progressing through a day release programme which includes one day at university and four days on the job training per week.”
The structure of the business changed in 2022 when the two founders sold their shares in the business to the employees and the business became employee owned. Although this was part of the succession planning, the founders remain part of the hugely experienced management team who between them have the experience, knowledge, and engineering capability needed to grow the company whilst maintaining its core values and culture.
“This move allowed us to future proof the business for our dedicated and hard-working employees and allows us to reward them for their part in its future and continued success. We will continually commit to developing and upskilling our workforce and constantly improving the quality of our service, ensuring we keep delivering for our clients, old and new, thereby securing repeat business in the pipeline for years to come. In five years’ time,” Athole concludes, “Kilmac will be a five-year better version of its current self.”