RJ McLeod
RJ McLeod is a Glasgow-based civil engineering and building contractor, founded 1951, delivering energy transition, roads, marine, infrastructure, flood prevention, and streetscaping projects across Scotland and the wider UK for government, local authority, and private enterprise clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RJ McLeod does
RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd is a Glasgow-headquartered civil engineering and building contractor operating across Scotland and the wider UK since 1951. The company delivers complex infrastructure projects through six core service lines: Energy Transition (wind farm balance of plant, hydro schemes, substations), Roads and Bridges, Marine (harbours, ports, coastal protection, ferry terminals), Infrastructure (land remediation, drainage, utilities), Flood Prevention (embankments, flood walls, coastal erosion defences), and Streetscaping (public realm and urban regeneration). Over more than seven decades it has built a portfolio spanning government, local authority, and private enterprise clients, including flagship renewable energy projects such as the 443MW Viking Energy Wind Farm, 226MW South Kyle Wind Farm, Peterhead Substation, and early works on SSEN Transmission's Western Isles HVDC Link.
The company generates revenue through competitive bidding and negotiated contracts as either principal contractor or subcontractor on civil engineering projects, with pricing determined per project rather than publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting government bodies, local authorities, and large private developers (e.g., SSE, Vattenfall, SSEN Transmission, Center Parcs, Transport Scotland). Delivery relies on owned plant, in-house workforce, and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) engagement that embeds the firm's expertise early in project scoping. The company was family-led for 25 years under Joint Managing Directors Graeme and Bruce Clark, who grew turnover from £30M to over £200M; they stepped down at the end of 2024. RJ McLeod was acquired by OCU Group Limited in 2024 and now operates as a strategic subsidiary within that UK infrastructure services platform.
RJ McLeod firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RJ McLeod
- Legal name
- RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd
- Website
- https://rjmcleod.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- RJ McLeod is a Glasgow-based civil engineering and building contractor, founded 1951, delivering energy transition, roads, marine, infrastructure, flood prevention, and streetscaping projects across Scotland and the wider UK for government, local authority, and private enterprise clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RJ McLeod industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Engineering Construction Services
- NAICS
- Utility System Construction (2371), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK), Offshore Wind Power Generation (Fixed-Bottom) (EUACAFAB), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)
Keywords
Where RJ McLeod is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
RJ McLeod business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Civil Engineering Construction Services: The company generates revenue through contracts as a principal contractor or subcontractor on civil engineering projects including wind farms, substations, roads, bridges, marine works, flood prevention, and infrastructure projects. Revenue is project-based and earned through construction contract delivery for government and private sector clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
RJ McLeod product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RJ McLeod is a civil engineering and building contractor delivering infrastructure projects across six interconnected service areas: energy transition (wind farms, hydro schemes, substations), roads and bridges, marine works, infrastructure, flood prevention, and streetscaping. The company operates as a principal contractor or subcontractor on projects for government bodies, local authorities, and private developers, with expertise in challenging and remote locations.
Product overview
RJ McLeod is a civil engineering and building contractor offering a unified set of construction services rather than a platform product. The company's service portfolio consists of six interconnected core offerings: Energy Transition Services (wind farms, hydro schemes, substations), Roads & Bridges Services, Marine Services, Infrastructure Services, Flood Prevention Services, and Streetscaping Services. These services are delivered as integrated civil engineering solutions, with projects typically combining multiple service areas—for example, energy transition projects include roads, foundations, and electrical infrastructure, while flood prevention projects encompass earthworks, concrete structures, and landscaping. The company operates as principal contractor on complex projects, providing in-house expertise across all service areas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Energy Transition Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Turnover growth from £30M to over £200M
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use RJ McLeod
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RJ McLeod technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RJ McLeod partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- OCU GroupcoreRJ McLeod became an OCU Group company, marking a significant step in their journey. The transition means they continue delivering high-quality service while gaining new strengths. From design to build and maintenance, they are better equipped to support sustainable energy and civil engineering solutions as part of the broader OCU Group network.
- SSEN TransmissioncoreRJ McLeod is carrying out early works for the Western Isles HVDC Link project as part of SSEN Transmission's £22 billion investment program to upgrade north Scotland's electricity grid.
- Hitachi EnergymajorHitachi Energy is delivering HVDC converter stations for the Western Isles HVDC Link project, working alongside RJ McLeod who is performing early works on the mainland underground cable section.
- NKTmajorNKT is delivering the power cable system for the Western Isles HVDC Link project, complementing RJ McLeod's early works on the mainland underground cable section.
- Center ParcscoreCenter Parcs appointed RJ McLeod as the contractor for enabling works including a 2.5km access road for the £450m resort development in the Scottish Borders between Hawick and Selkirk.
- Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions LtdmajorRJ McLeod acted as Civils subcontractor working for Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Ltd on the Peterhead Substation project for SSEN Transmission.
- Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) ScotlandminorRJ McLeod is a member of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Scotland), demonstrating commitment to industry standards and best practices.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RJ McLeod competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Balfour Beatty: One of the UK's largest infrastructure groups with major exposure to roads, rail, energy and substations; directly comparable as a Tier-1 civil contractor on which RJ McLeod already works as a subcontractor (e.g., Peterhead Substation).
- Morgan Sindall: UK construction and infrastructure group operating across civil engineering, utilities and energy; comparable broad service portfolio and similar UK regional operating model.
- Kier Group: UK infrastructure and construction group with significant highways, utilities and energy civils exposure; comparable in scale and project mix to RJ McLeod's roads, bridges, and infrastructure services.
Direct peers
- VolkerStevin: UK civil engineering specialist within VolkerWessels focused on coastal, marine, flood defence and infrastructure; closely comparable to RJ McLeod's marine and flood prevention service lines.
- BAM Nuttall: UK civil engineering contractor specialising in roads, bridges, energy and marine infrastructure; very closely comparable to RJ McLeod in service mix and Tier-2 contractor profile.
- Story Contracting: Cumbria-based infrastructure contractor with strong portfolio in rail, highways, energy and renewables; closely comparable regional contractor with similar end-customer base in northern UK public sector.
- Jones Bros Civil Engineering: Mid-sized UK civil engineering contractor with strong wind farm BoP and renewables track record; one of the closest direct comparables to RJ McLeod in size, geography and energy transition focus.
- John Graham Construction: UK and Ireland civil engineering and building contractor with significant infrastructure, energy and public realm exposure; comparable in scale (~£1B turnover) and project types to RJ McLeod.
- McLaughlin & Harvey: Northern Ireland-based civil engineering and building contractor with similar multi-sector portfolio (energy, marine, roads, infrastructure); direct competitor for UK public sector and renewable energy BoP contracts.
Regional players
- Farrans Construction: Northern Ireland and UK civil engineering contractor operating in roads, bridges, marine and energy; comparable service mix but primarily competes in different UK regional markets than RJ McLeod.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RJ McLeod social profiles
Digital presenceRJ McLeod financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RJ McLeod leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
RJ McLeod funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RJ McLeod M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RJ McLeod
What does RJ McLeod do?
RJ McLeod is a civil engineering and building contractor delivering infrastructure projects across six interconnected service areas: energy transition (wind farms, hydro schemes, substations), roads and bridges, marine works, infrastructure, flood prevention, and streetscaping. The company operates as a principal contractor or subcontractor on projects for government bodies, local authorities, and private developers, with expertise in challenging and remote locations.
Is RJ McLeod a public or private company?
RJ McLeod is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was RJ McLeod founded?
RJ McLeod was founded in 1951. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is RJ McLeod based?
RJ McLeod is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does RJ McLeod make money?
One revenue line is on record: civil Engineering Construction Services.
Who are RJ McLeod's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall and Kier Group. Direct peers are VolkerStevin, BAM Nuttall, Story Contracting, Jones Bros Civil Engineering, John Graham Construction and McLaughlin & Harvey. Farrans Construction is listed as a regional player.
Does RJ McLeod have an API?
No public API is recorded for RJ McLeod.
What industry is RJ McLeod in?
RJ McLeod's product category is Civil Engineering Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAAAG, Public Works General Contracting, with a secondary code of BPAIABAK, State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration. Its NAICS code is 2371 and its SIC code is 1623.