Modern Methods of Construction and the growth of Stofix UK – by Operations Director Alex Porter
Stofix UK Operations Director, Alex Porter tells us about the growth of Stofix and the increasing demand for Modern Methods of Construction.
Tell us about the current growth you are seeing at Stofix UK?
Stofix UK has been operating for number of years now (since 2014 in the UK). The recent growth of the business is largely attributed to the specification work of the sales team starting to come to fruition. We continue to work with main contractors such as Bowmer + Kirkland and Winvic. We also spend a lot of time working with architects throughout the UK to develop our specification pipeline, we also offer a RIBA CPD presentation to architects and design managers.
Why do you think the business is thriving during a challenging economic climate?
Stofix products are aimed at large scale residential and commercial projects. During these challenging economic times this side of the industry tends to fair well as a result of secured funding and the absolute requirement for these schemes to go ahead.
In which sectors are you seeing an increasing demand?
The UK government is supporting Modern Methods of Construction offering significant financial boosts to offsite construction methods. So we anticipating a rise in the number of projects employing this method, particularly for public infrastructure such as schools.
Stofix has been specified for a number of Department for Education projects, part of the Government’s 10-year school rebuild programme. The programme sets out to do major rebuilding and refurbishment projects at school and sixth form college buildings across England, with all new buildings to be net zero carbon in operation. So far we have worked on a number of schools with main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, including Woodbridge Road Academy, Ark Education, Thames Park School, West Coventry Academy, and Shropshire-based Bowbrook School and Keystone Academy.
Pic: Ark Education
Tell us about Stofix projects for 2023?
We have seen demand increase in all areas, residential development will account for circa 35,000 sqm of our production capacity this year, education following with circa 15,000 sqm and Ministry of Justice works equate for circa 5000sqm. A lot of this is fuelled by the government’s desire to promote Modern Methods of Construction across the Department for Education, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence projects. Residential developments are changing their requirements for the reasons listed above.
2023 is the year of the large projects, with a substantial amount of production going to Winvic at Kent Street Baths an 18-storey residential development, and Holloway head in the heart of Birmingham. Further sites currently under construction are Crown Place Nottingham for Winvic and design is commencing on a 12,000sqm project for Bowmer + Kirkland at West Bar in Sheffield.
