Buckley Design Solutions Ltd

What Buckley Design Solutions Ltd does

Buckley Design Solutions Ltd is a UK specialist scaffold design and temporary works engineering consultancy founded in 2011 by Lee Buckley and headquartered in Swinton, Pendlebury, Manchester. The firm operates with between 11 and 50 employees, of whom 15 are design engineers, and serves clients across heritage and conservation (e.g., cathedrals, castles, listed buildings), regulated infrastructure (Network Rail-approved work), stadia, education, retail, and construction sectors, with selected international projects in the Middle East and New Zealand. Service lines include scaffold design, temporary works engineering, structural calculations, 3D modelling and BIM outputs, site visits, risk assessments, and third-party independent design checking, with delivery supported by structural analysis tools such as SkyCiv and Velventi.

The firm's revenue model is project-based professional services, monetising engineering hours and deliverables on a contract basis for scaffolding contractors, principal contractors, and asset owners; pricing is not publicly disclosed but follows UK consultancy norms for regulated, safety-critical design work. Go-to-market has historically relied on founder-led relationships and NASC membership, but the firm is now layering in formal industry-event marketing, evidenced by exhibition at ScaffEx 24 (Belfast, 2024) and ScaffEx 25 (2025), and is investing in brand visibility through industry recognition (NASC Scaffold Design of the Year 2024 shortlist, CAT 3 independent design checker selection). Operational scaling is supported by recent senior hires including Operations Manager Mike Brown and design engineers such as Mohammed Al-Husseini. The firm remains bootstrapped and founder-led, with no disclosed external funding or M&A activity.

Name

Buckley Design Solutions Ltd

Legal name

Buckley Design Solutions Ltd

Website

https://buckleydesigns.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Buckley Design Solutions Ltd is a UK specialist scaffold design and temporary works engineering consultancy, founded in 2011 and based in Manchester, serving heritage, rail, stadia, education, and construction clients with design, 3D modelling, and independent design checking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scaffold Design and Temporary Works Engineering

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Drafting Services (541340)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting (BPAHAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Temporary Works & Shoring (Sheeting, Bracing, Cofferdams) (IMAFAKAI), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Scaffold design services
• Temporary works engineering
• Structural calculations
• Heritage scaffold design
• BIM 3D modelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Scaffold Design Services: Professional scaffold design services including site-specific and generic drawings compliant with British Standards, Euro Codes, and NASC guidelines. Delivered as part of a professional services engagement, typically with 4–5 working day lead times and a 24-hour emergency turnaround option.
2. Supporting Calculations: Comprehensive structural calculations and secondary CAT 2 in-house checks, accompanying each scaffold design. Additional checker calculations available as a separate deliverable within the design services offering.
3. Third-Party Design Checking: CAT 3 design checks and sign-off services for externally produced scaffold designs. Offered to scaffolding contractors and other firms as a standalone or add-on professional service.
4. Site Visits and Surveys: Site visits to gather design information, assess on-site risks and hazards, and take detailed measurements. Conducted by dedicated staff, billed as part of the design service engagement.
5. Designers Risk Assessments: Site-specific risk assessments identifying and addressing potential hazards, delivered as part of the scaffold design service to minimise risks to operatives and the general public.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Buckley Design Solutions provides specialist scaffold design and temporary works engineering services to the construction, offshore, restoration, and railway industries. The consultancy produces site-specific and generic scaffold drawings, structural calculations, 3D BIM models, designers' risk assessments, site surveys, and CAT 3 third-party design checks compliant with British Standards, Euro Codes, and NASC guidelines. Typical lead times are 4-5 working days with a 24-hour emergency turnaround service available.

Product overview

Buckley Design Solutions Ltd operates as a specialist scaffold design consultancy offering a unified service portfolio centered on professional scaffolding design solutions. Their core offerings consist of six integrated service modules: Scaffolding Design Services (covering draft/concept, approval, and AFC design phases), Calculations (supporting structural analysis using SkyCiv and Velventi software), 3D Modelling (for visualization and clash detection), Site Visits, Surveys and Feasibility Studies, Designers Risk Assessment, and Third Party Design Checks (CAT 3 checking for Network Rail). The company serves construction, offshore, restoration, and railway industries with typical lead times of 4-5 working days and emergency 24-hour turnaround capability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scaffolding Design Services Professional scaffold design services covering draft/concept designs, approval designs, and AFC (Approved for Construction) designs, including site-specific and generic drawings compliant with British Standards, Euro Codes, and NASC guidelines. Targeted at scaffolding contractors and main contractors in construction, offshore, restoration, and railway sectors.
• Supporting Calculations Comprehensive structural calculations supporting each scaffold design, addressing wind loads, snow loads, live loads, and dead loads using SkyCiv and Velventi analysis software and proprietary spreadsheets, accompanied by CAT 2 in-house checks. Delivered as part of design engagements or as separate checker calculations.
• 3D Modelling and Visualisation 3D design service providing comprehensive visualisation of complex scaffold designs from all angles, identifying clashes with on-site services and utilities and enhancing hazard awareness. Also used to create fly-through style videos and 3D-printed physical models for exhibitions.
• Site Visits, Surveys and Feasibility Studies On-site visits by dedicated staff to gather accurate design information, assess on-site risks and hazards, and take detailed measurements of buildings, supporting feasibility studies for scaffold design engagements.
• Designers Risk Assessment Site-specific identification of hazards and risks through detailed risk assessments at the design stage, minimising risks to site operatives and the general public during scaffold erection and use.
• Third Party Design Checks (CAT 3) Category 3 (CAT 3) independent design checks and advice for externally produced scaffold designs. As an approved Network Rail contractor, the firm is authorised to sign off Form C, Form H, and IDC compliance forms, issuing check certificates after independent review and separate calculations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ new business leads generated at ScaffEx 25 (Manchester, September 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NASC (National Access & Scaffolding Confederation)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 September 2025Buckley Design Solutions is an associate member of NASC and was selected by NASC to perform independent CAT 3 design checks on all scaffold structures submitted by ScaffEx 25 exhibitors. The company exhibited at both ScaffEx 24 Belfast (2024) and ScaffEx 25 Manchester (2025). NASC is the industry's standard-setting body, and this endorsement reflects the company's standing within the scaffolding and access industry.
• Scaffolding AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBuckley Design Solutions is listed as an Associate Member of the Scaffolding Association, as evidenced by the association logo displayed on the company website footer alongside NASC and TWF memberships.
• TWF (Temporary Works Forum)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuckley Design Solutions is a member of the Temporary Works Forum, as evidenced by the TWF logo displayed in the website footer alongside NASC and Scaffolding Association memberships.
• Connolly ScaffoldingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnolly Scaffolding hosts hands-on scaffold training days for BDS engineers, bridging the gap between technical design and on-site construction. This collaboration directly improves the quality and buildability of BDS's designs. NASC President Wayne Connolly has provided a testimonial praising BDS as 'considered an asset to our company' with a 'professional approach and can do attitude.'
• Crossway ScaffoldingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA long-standing client of Buckley Design Solutions. Crossway Scaffolding and BDS formed a combined team to participate in the Men's Mental Health World Cup 5-a-side charity tournament at Goodison Park, strengthening the client relationship through shared community engagement.
• Bryndulais Scaffolding, South WalesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular client of Buckley Design Solutions, described as consistently dropping jobs with little notice and receiving quality designs delivered within timescales. Testimonial from Rhys Jones: 'Great feedback from the scaffolders and clients on site with regards to the quality of designs.'

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins / SNC-Lavalin): Global engineering consultancy with extensive UK rail and infrastructure design practices. While not a scaffold design specialist, AtkinsRéalis can compete for the design scope on large rail and infrastructure projects where BDS also bids. Represents the generalist engineering consultancy competitive threat.
• Cundall: International engineering consultancy with a UK temporary works and construction engineering practice. Offers similar design services but as part of a much broader multi-discipline portfolio. Competes for the same enterprise rail and construction clients as BDS at the larger end of project scale.
• PERI (UK): Global formwork and scaffolding manufacturer with UK operations offering design services tied to equipment sales and rental. Comparable only on the scaffolding design service overlap; PERI's primary business is product-based, making it a partial peer for engineering consulting rather than a direct competitor.
• MGF (Trench Shoring Specialists): UK's largest specialist shoring and temporary works provider, combining equipment hire with engineering design services. While shoring is the core focus, MGF's design arm overlaps with BDS on temporary works engineering for rail and infrastructure, and serves similar enterprise customers.
• Mabey Hire: UK market leader in temporary works equipment hire (shoring, propping, bridging) with associated design services. Operates in the same temporary works ecosystem as BDS but as a much larger incumbent offering equipment + design + site support as an integrated package. Overlaps in rail and infrastructure customers.
• BrandSafway (UK): Global scaffolding and access services giant with significant UK operations combining equipment rental, contracting, and design services. A substantially larger incumbent that BDS may compete with on enterprise tenders but whose in-house design capability and scale give it pricing leverage in commoditized work.

Direct peers

• BWB Consulting: UK multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy with strong temporary works, civil, and structural design capability. Operates at a comparable size to BDS and serves overlapping rail, infrastructure, and construction customers. A genuine head-to-head competitor for project-based design work.
• Apex Scaffold Design: UK-based scaffold design consultancy offering similar professional services including temporary works design, calculations, and 3D modelling. Operates at comparable scale to BDS and serves overlapping customer segments (scaffolding contractors, main contractors). Direct head-to-head competitor for project work.
• Tony Gee and Partners: UK specialist civil and structural engineering consultancy with a strong temporary works and construction engineering practice. Like Buckley Design Solutions, Tony Gee combines hands-on construction knowledge with engineering qualifications, and serves rail, infrastructure, and complex build sectors. Comparable in scale and specialist positioning.

Emerging players

• Layher UK: UK arm of the German scaffolding systems manufacturer, increasingly offering design and engineering support for complex scaffold configurations using their proprietary system. Overlaps with BDS in the 'designed scaffold' segment but is product-led rather than purely design-led.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buckley-design-solutions-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Buckley Design Solutions Ltd