For any construction company, traditional or modular, trying to avoid frustrations and delays should be a guiding principle. After all, we are not just building structures: we are creating places for people to live, learn, be taken care of and work in a safe and comfortable environment. A project that takes longer than expected means that people can be left in limbo, or have to put up with sub-par or temporary accommodation – whether that’s an ageing hospital ward or a draughty, old-fashioned temporary classroom – for longer than they would wish to.
There is no denying that there are some external factors that might cause unwanted delays or frustrations, and at the moment these are under scrutiny more than ever. It’s no secret that global events have had an impact on the supply chain for many construction companies in the UK, from delays caused by the blockage to the Suez Canal to the impact of Russian sanctions on timber products. While these issues are of course unavoidable, building a positive working partnership with a reliable and well-informed partner can help you to plan ahead and avoid any major headaches.
Off-site for the win
Many of our customers in the public sector – including school business managers, NHS estates managers, local authorities, and more – understand the benefits of modular construction as a solution to some of these common problems.
Modular and off-site construction means that buildings are being manufactured in a controlled setting where materials can be held in-stock, reducing some of the pricing volatility encountered by the wider construction sector. While of course there may still be some delays to materials arriving on time, and price fluctuations may occur, off-site construction can mitigate other issues such as poor weather, making it significantly easier to remain on an agreed timeframe.
The advantage of working with a modular construction specialist is that the majority of the process can be undertaken under one roof, by skilled operatives who can guarantee the required levels of quality. That means that even if multiple buildings or modules are needed, the standard will be consistently high, with just finish works to be undertaken on-site, usually in a matter of days.
Communication is key
But by far the most important factor in ensuring that projects run smoothly is the relationship between client and contractor.
At Elite, we strive to ensure that our clients have a good outcome and a building that perfectly matches their purpose. To achieve that, we encourage open dialogue throughout the process and will always make a point of contact available to answer any questions you may have. As a turnkey provider, we prefer to support our clients through every step of the process, and this means we have to make it easy for them to put their trust in us.
Working with a trusted partner who can take on every element of the build process – including design, planning applications, and groundworks as well as the full construction and internal fit-out -saves you time and will ultimately make the build programme run more smoothly as you are not managing multiple consultants or contractors. As long as the contractor you are outsourcing to keeps you informed, you can focus on your day job of managing your hardworking facility.
Here are our top tips for success when specifying a modular classroom, healthcare facility, or administrative building:
- Plan ahead: your contractor will be able to tell you realistic timescales based on when you need your building to be operational, bringing their knowledge of their own supply chain to bear.
- Be open to your contractor’s ideas: you may have heard that a particular feature or aesthetic touch is tricky, but bespoke modular building specialists like ourselves are used to coming up with creative solutions and can often find a way to achieve your brief.
- Engage early: by involving your contractor at the outset of the design stage, you may be able to save money and time by outsourcing more elements to them and working with them to agree a programme of works that suits you.
