RATHMELL ARCHAEOLOGY joins AOC ARCHAEOLOGY
We are excited to announce that Rathmell Archaeology joined forces with AOC Archaeology on 16th February 2026.
For over 20 years, Rathmell has been one of the most trusted heritage providers in western Scotland, working on a range of infrastructure, housing, commercial and public archaeology projects. Rathmell’s Managing Director, Thomas Rees, and staff will join AOC and continue to drive the business forward. The company will continue to trade as Rathmell Archaeology, maintaining its identity and brand.
The acquisition expands AOC’s service offering across the entirety of Scotland, complementing its Edinburgh and Inverness offices’ coverage.
Together, Rathmell and AOC become the largest provider of archaeological services in Scotland by both turnover and staff numbers. We provide an unparalleled service offering across the entire country, which includes geophysics, geoarchaeology, historic building recording, survey, consultancy, fieldwork, conservation, post-excavation and community archaeology.
AOC and Rathmell will grow their Glasgow office threefold over the next 2 years, building on a strong client base and reputation. Existing clients will also be able to benefit from access to a wider range of great technical and professional resources and geographical offerings.
This joining is based on mirrored cultures, particularly our shared commitment to exceptional client delivery through local staff and offices, social value and staff career development.
Rathmell’s Managing Director, Thomas Rees, said “Joining the AOC family opens a massive door for us all at Rathmell. With the support of the AOC network, we will grow our operation at pace while being able to retain the social values and team qualities that have made us successful. For our existing staff, they will gain significant new opportunities for their career development. Beyond this, we’re looking forward to welcoming new staff and clients into our office while continuing to deliver quality outcomes. The future for Rathmell is looking great, and I cannot wait to get started with my colleagues on this next level of development for the Company.”
AOC's Managing Director, Andy Heald, added, “It’s an exciting time. Everyone at AOC is delighted to welcome the exceptional Rathmell staff and we look forward to building on their huge success in western Scotland. The Glasgow office is a wonderful addition to our Edinburgh and Inverness offices, which now means we can deliver unparalleled heritage services across Scotland. Traditionally, our focus has been on eastern and northern Scotland; we look forward to working with the Rathmell staff and growing together, offering new opportunities as we grow the Glasgow office throughout 2026 and in the coming years. We will continue to work together on delivering social value, as both companies have done for the last 20 years. A proactive business development and recruitment strategy is the key focus: we hope to encourage new clients and new talent to join our new Glasgow office in the coming months”.
