Leading modular construction business Integra Buildings is capitalising on rapid growth after completing a three-year, £3million transformation of its operations.
The investment involved stunning new offices - modular built - alongside new manufacturing facilities that doubled production capacity. Now the fast-growing company is pushing forward with a further £1million investment in production facilities and plans to create at least 10 new jobs, on top of more than 20 over the past year. East Yorkshire-based Integra specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke modular buildings for a wide range of uses, including sport, leisure, education, healthcare and commercial operations.
Integra has established an enviable reputation for design and build excellence, innovation and project performance, working with public and private sector clients. That reputation was underlined earlier this year when Integra was named as one of just 24 contractors on the Government's pioneering £1.2billion Modular Buildings Solutions framework.
It's a far cry from Integra's humble beginnings in 1997, when Managing Director Gary Parker, a former apprentice electrician, and a handful of colleagues began by manufacturing just two units a week. Today Integra is a £30million business employing more than 110 staff and delivering multimillion pound contracts around the UK.
"We have a superb team who are passionate about ensuring every project is delivered to the highest standards and to the client's exact requirements," says Gary Parker. "That's the foundation of our success. We believe passionately that modular is the future of the construction industry and we're determined to lead the way, which is why we're investing heavily in facilities, technology and staff development."
Integra's clients include Kier Construction, the Football Foundation, Sport England, rail franchise owner Govia and Interserve Construction. Integra's highly skilled and experienced staff work closely with clients at every stage of design and construction to deliver bespoke solutions. These collaborative relationships contribute to an impressive 70% rate of repeat business.
Notable recent projects include a £1.1million, 16-bay office building for the University of the Creative Arts in Farnham, Surrey, which, thanks to an elegant Siberian larch timber finish, sits beautifully in its semi-rural setting. Meanwhile, £600,000 offices for Gressingham Foods, in Norfolk, demonstrate bespoke modular building at its best, with a large openplan office space, boardroom, breakout areas and professional kitchens for food demonstrations.
Integra strives to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with offsite construction. Only recently the company delivered a £1.4million project to design and build more than 30 fully-equipped modular units which will form an innovative community of self-contained studio apartments in Bristol for young people who struggle to find affordable accommodation.
As Integra looks to the future, a key priority is developing its pipeline of talent. The company has made a significant investment in training, creating 10 new apprenticeships in the past year. "We pride ourselves on developing people and on creating rewarding careers," adds Gary Parker. "We believe our apprentices can be the future of this business - and it's an exciting future."
