McAdam Design, an award-winning architecture firm based in Peterhead, has ceased trading after more than 50 years, entering Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL).
The Aberdeenshire-based company, established in 1974, provided architectural services across the North East of Scotland. Kenneth Robert Craig and Kevin Mapstone of BTG Begbies Traynor (Central LLP) were appointed joint administrators on October 9, 2026. The firm's trading address on its Companies House profile has been changed to the administrators' offices.
Company Background and Operations
Originally trading from 70 King Street, Peterhead, McAdam Design was a multidisciplinary company that often acted as the lead consultant to co-ordinate work for other clients, including mechanical, electrical, civil and structural engineers and quantity surveyors.
Overseeing the creation of well-designed buildings, the practice worked with its clients from the initial concept through to completion. According to its website, there were eight members of staff, including a senior architect, technicians and an office manager.
The firm also boasted a "growing" technical and design library that provided staff with a "stimulating and exciting work environment". It also ran various memberships with construction associations, ensuring it was "updated with the latest design trends and technological advances available."
Ceasing Trading and Liquidation Process
Ahead of liquidators being appointed, the company officially ceased trading in September 2026. An automatic reply to an email inquiry read: "It is with regret that, as from the 30th September 2026, Mcadam Design (Scotland) Ltd ceased trading."
While no statement has been provided by either BTG or McAdam Design on why the firm has ceased trading, a public notice on the London Gazette confirms that the move was a Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL). According to the BTG Begbies website, this is when the director of an insolvent firm closes it down "in an orderly and legally compliant way". It is considered to be "the most common form of liquidation in the UK."
Once a company is under a CVL, an insolvency practitioner manages the liquidation process from start to finish by realising a firm's assets, investigating its affairs and the conduct of directors in the build-up to insolvency, while also distributing proceeds to creditors in order of priority. Once this process is complete, the company will be dissolved and removed from the official Companies House page. If any debts are remaining, these will then be written off unless there is a 'personal guarantee' in place.
Recent Scottish Business Closures
The closure comes just days after it was reported that a Scottish electrical firm had collapsed into administration, resulting in all 40 jobs being lost. BGL Contracts, located in Glasgow, officially collapsed on July 9, 2026. Administrators at Interpath Advisory confirmed that the business had "struggled to overcome financial challenges including rising costs, low contract margins and the rephasing of some major contracts."
The used car sector across the country has also faced challenges, with family-run firm Cars4You Ltd entering administration on October 2, with BTG also being appointed as the insolvency practitioner. Operating from five main showrooms across Scotland, the business had an inventory of up to 1,500 used vehicles. However, the appointment of administrators resulted in all 26 staff losing their job.
The Daily Record has approached administrators at BTG Begbies Traylor (Central LLP) for a comment.
