Expanding North Yorkshire company is building a reputation for high-quality cabins

A NORTH Yorkshire firm which specialises in high-quality portable cabins and modular buildings is a contender in The Press Business Awards.

Britcab was launched only eight years ago “huddled around a home desk and with a small piece of land for our portable buildings to be stored upon”.

Since then it has grown considerably and now employs more than 40 people, as well as 15 to 20 regular subcontractors, and has two working depots and two satellite storage sites across the UK.

In addition the Tholthorpe-based enterprise has entered the Large Business of the Year category of our awards.

Initially dealing solely in second-hand portable cabins, it specialises in refurbished units and now builds a large number of cabins itself.

Britcab recently moved into an all-purpose 5.5-acre yard, which has helped it cope with an increasing demand for its products.

It has had a major increase in turnover is set to enjoy its most profitable year to date, and completed its move from Pocklington to Tholthorpe in December, which has allowed it to bring manufacturing of units ‘in-house’.

“As we now produce cabins in-house, we have employed a small team of people who solely manufacture for us. We are able to turn around about 12 new units a month - built to clients’ bespoke requirements.

“Last summer we launched two new products – the ‘Britannia’ and ‘Guardian’ range. We have listened to clients’ feedback and designed these buildings accordingly. These portable cabins include items such as larger windows, PIR lighting, half-glazed entrance door and much more.

“During the past 12 months, we have gone from 28 employees on the books to 40. We have also taken on two apprentices from York College and two at our Billingham site in the last nine months. We are aiming to take on more apprentices later in the year.

“We recently redesigned and relaunched our website. This was done to place emphasis on our new units, whilst making things easier and quicker for customers using tablets/mobile phones.”

Last month Britcab was awarded its largest ever contract, totalling more than £1.1 million and involving the refurbishment and installation of seven large classroom buildings in seven different schools for Leicester Council, all during the summer holiday period.

The company has a reputation for high-quality units and customer service, and this year exhibited its new units at the Great Yorkshire Show.

“We are now extremely well set for future growth and are at present investigating the prospects of opening new depots around the country,” the company says.