Image: Ilke Homes
New offsite entrant Ilke Homes has opened its first factory in Harrogate, Yorkshire, with the aim of delivering up to 2,000 modular homes a year.
Ilke, a joint venture launched last October between housebuilder Keepmoat and offsite specialist Elliot, will begin production at the new 25,000 m2 factory in March and has hired 150 people for the launch phase.
The new jobs include 100 people in the manufacturing and supply chain team, supported and enabled by a team of designers, engineers and other professionals. The manufacturing team is expected to grow to around 300 over the next 12 months.
The factory will create high-specification modular homes using precision manufacturing, which will be transported to sites across the UK.
Ilke Homes chief executive Bjorn Conway said: “Our culture at Ilke Homes will be very collaborative – the design engineering team will be hands on, working with the manufacturing team in the factory to solve issues and deliver a product that is not only truly cost effective, but also meets the needs of modern living.
“We’re passionate about having a diverse team at Ilke Homes and will offer flexible working arrangements to suit all our employees, whether that’s to fit around the school run or just to maintain a great work-life balance.”
Business secretary Greg Clark said: “Britain has a proud heritage in high-quality manufacturing and through our Industrial Strategy the government has outlined a vision that will build on our strengths in manufacturing and help shape an environment that enables businesses to thrive.
“Ilke Homes’ new factory in Harrogate will use innovative offsite manufacturing to build modular affordable homes, creating high-quality jobs and contributing to the Industrial Strategy’s bold plan of action when it comes to infrastructure and housing.”
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Pity a similar enterprise couldn’t get started in NI where work is scarce.