Off-site specialist of the year

The pupils of Frances Bardsley school in Havering, Essex probably don’t realise it but without the use of off-site manufactured panels by Framework they wouldn’t have their new visual arts centre. According to Framework the project – which was paid for largely by the school’s own fundraising efforts – was not going to happen as the school couldn’t afford the costs of the traditional building process. Once Framework was on board however, the £310,000 project was completed in just 14 weeks. It has long been acknowledged as the case that OSM beats traditional construction in terms of time on site. However to beat it on cost as well is something else. The 50% increase in Framework’s R&D budget to £300,000 seems like money very well spent.

Framework CDM floor panels are swung into place – keeping time on site to a minimum

Runners-up

Britspace Modular Buildings

Like our winner, this company has ably demonstrated the time advantages of OSM. Britspace more than cut in half the estimated traditional build programme for a school extension in Edinburgh from 30 to just 14 weeks. It is this sort of performance that has seen the steel-frame company grow from strength to strength with turnover up by 65% to £23.7m last year and a loss of £444,000 transformed into a £2.4m profit.

Fusion Building Systems

This company has staked its whole business on a new concrete floor and steel frame system that it has shrouded in great secrecy ahead of securing patent protection later this year. It claims that the volumetric system, which will be produced at its new factory at the rate of 90 room units per week, will be capable of standing up to 12 storeys high. We await the results with bated breath.

Prater

This roofing and cladding company may be fast but it is also safe. On the one hand it can install over 1000 m2 of prefabricated roof at the Pier Six project at Gatwick airport in just one night, but on the other it can receive five stars and 92% from the British Safety Council following a three-day audit of its operations. It’s a winning formula with 90% repeat business and turnover up two-thirds in the last three years to £34.5m.

Yorkon

Let’s follow Yorkon’s lead and let the figures do the talking. An average of 96% of projects completed on time and 94% on budget since 2001 – this compares with the overall industry averages as compiled by RICS of 63% and 49% respectively. Then there are the company’s aggregated customer satisfaction scores: 9.19 out of 10 in the last 12 months. Its clients include Tesco Express, Pizza Hut and a number of local authorities and they return for more to give Yorkon 70% repeat business. A tally of results to be proud of.