Operating theatre in a Portakabin-built modular building at Royal Stoke University Hospital
Portakabin has bought modular healthcare builder that turned over £80m in 2022.
Portakabin, which specialises in modular building, did not disclose how much it paid the Telford-based Darwin Group, but said the acquisition will help it to expand into the healthcare sector and offer “significant benefits to healthcare providers across the UK”.
Darwin has around 200 employees and represents a “highly strategic acquisition” for Portakabin, the latter said. Portakabin itself is based in York and turned over £355.9m in the year to 31 December 2021.
“[The acquisition] closely aligns with the pursuit of the longer-term strategic growth ambitions for Portakabin and directly serves to address the growing demand for high-quality temporary and permanent building solutions across Europe,” Portakabin said in a statement.
Portakabin chief executive Dan Ibbetson said: “This union between two of the most respected offsite modular builders in their respective fields is an exciting development for both Portakabin and Darwin Group.
“We are both passionate about providing the healthcare sector with the most comprehensive range of market-leading products and services, particularly given the considerable pressures on our healthcare professionals today.”
Darwin chief executive Richard Pierce said: “An incredibly strong culture runs through the DNA of both businesses, and our commitment to delivering quality healthcare facilities allowing clinicians to enhance patient care makes this a natural fit.”
Modular construction has become highly sought-after within the healthcare sector as it is viewed as a way of increasing safety on site, completing jobs more quickly and reducing carbon during construction work.
The government is also seeking to increase modular construction across public spending – with both Darwin and Portakabin already included on a Crown Commercial Services framework for modular healthcare buildings.
In January, offsite modular specialist Merit announced a 4,000-square-metre expansion of its North East manufacturing plant, while fellow modular specialist M-AR announced plans to scale up its production last November.
Subcontractors and other specialists across the UK have until 28 April to submit their entries for the 2023 CN Specialists Awards!
Entrants will be judged on their achievements between January 2022 and April 2023. There are 21 categories to enter, chosen to showcase the incredible breadth and depth of talent across the UK’s construction supply chain.
Written entries will be carefully examined by an extensive panel of expert judges during May, with shortlisted entrants invited to present their work to the judges face-to-face in June.
Winning entrants will collect their accolades at a black-tie celebration dinner, to be held at the Hilton London Metropole on 7 September.
Visit the CN Specialists Awards website for further details and to enter now.
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Joshua Stein