The forward thinking Advantage Offsite initiative was established in 2006 to develop the region's expertise in offsite manufacturing (OSM) and modern methods of construction (MMC) for the construction industry – where buildings and products are manufactured in controlled factory environments before being transported and assembled on site.
Managed by Shropshire-based construction consultancy Mtech Consult, Advantage Offsite has established a communication network between key players in the MMC industry, including regional manufacturers and clients such as housing associations, as well as developing the latest techniques and innovation in OSM to make the West Midlands an international leader in the field.
The initiative helped a broad range of more than 100 companies and exceeded expectations. In addition, more than 63 jobs were created, 108 jobs safeguarded and five new businesses established.
The 100th firm in the region to benefit from the support of Advantage Offsite was Tamworth based Stormking Plastics Limited, the largest supplier of GRP (glass reinforced plastics) products to the construction industry.
Gary King, Managing Director at Stormking, first learnt of Advantage Offsite at the national Interbuild exhibition at the NEC. He said: “Our work with Advantage Offsite really allowed us to think outside the box and has helped us to successfully expand the business into the offsite sector, which was a first for us and has proven to be a fantastic opportunity.
“We took up the offer of support and advice from the programme and then also received assistance in paying for a consultant to help us explore producing offsite products. The consultant also helped us improve our green credentials and reduce our carbon footprint helping to make us a more sustainable enterprise.
“Our first offsite product – parts for an offsite bathroom pod – is already on-stream and we are developing more opportunities for the future.”
Michael Ciotkowski, Building Technologies Cluster Manager at Advantage West Midlands, said: "The construction industry employs around 250,000 in the West Midlands and is worth around £6.7 billion per annum to the regional economy.
“The OSM sector has been growing at 30 per cent per year and is expected to accelerate this growth rate as the economic recovery begins, with expectations of ten-fold growth by 2020 to meet the growing demand for new homes and buildings.
“In 2006 the region sat in pole position to establish a world class reputation in a new and exciting industry sector thanks to its proud history of manufacturing and the ability of its workforce to innovate and come up with new ideas.
"In the years since then, Advantage Offsite has provided an excellent opportunity to transfer skills from declining areas of manufacturing into a booming industry which is providing buildings of the future which are attractive, well designed and of the highest quality.
“The construction and operation of buildings is the UK’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately half of the UK’s total.
“Customers are now demanding more sustainable buildings with reduced carbon emissions helping to prevent further climate change. The West Midlands has a building technologies industry with the creativity and expertise needed to develop the solutions to climate change and which is seizing the business opportunities that will secure and safeguard our future.”
Martin Goss, Managing Director of Mtech Consult, said: "Advantage Offsite has become the catalyst to promote and develop the offsite manufacturing industry within the West Midlands. One of our key aims has been to develop a substantial offsite manufacturing supply chain to safeguard and create new jobs.