Perhaps one of the most important things modular buildings specialist The Qube has built over the past couple of years is the strong senior team that has seen the Northamptonshire company deliver its best year yet and move forward with a new confidence.
Jordan Spittle, who stepped into the Managing Director role at his family company just over a year ago, is proud of the way the company has grown as he prepares for a year-end figure that is around 50% up on last year, and with an order book that suggests something very close to that the following year.
Recent projects have included a new sports pavilion at Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford and two separate double-storey science blocks for other clients within the education sector.
Contracts are about to be signed on another major education project in Milton Keynes to kick off financial year 25/26.
“These projects are a strong finish to what is shaping up to be our best year yet,” said Jordan. “A big part of that success is down to confidence in what is now an experienced senior team. Two years ago, we wouldn’t have tendered for the types of schemes we are tendering for now, but we know we’re ready for that step up.
“My new role meant I started last year with a new impetus. Because of the team we’ve invested in and the appointments we’ve made, that has enabled me and Mick (previous Managing Director and now company Chairman, Mick Spittle) to reflect and take stock of what we’ve done.
“We’re not resting on our laurels at all, but we always thought we would get to this point, where we would be going for those larger contracts and we were always looking to keep taking it forward, and seeing what we have achieved, I’m proud of team we’re building and how they share our vision.
“Having confidence in them means that, after years of being so busy keeping the business running, Mick and I have found that we now have time to catch our breath and work on the business strategy and where we can go from here.
“I can see the potential of the team and the projects that we are working with and that’s why we can celebrate our wins, because we know we’re in a strong position to move forward.”
The Qube specialises in creating bespoke modular buildings that suit clients’ needs, space and budget. Using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and structural insulated panels (SIPs), The Qube offers a full in-house design and build service, from planning and design through to completion.
Despite embracing modern, sustainable techniques, The Qube’s completed projects can be virtually indistinguishable from traditional building methods, as the recent Oxford school project demonstrated.
Jordan said: “At Christchurch Cathedral School we created a cricket pavilion that looks exactly how you might expect a traditional cricket pavilion to look. It has oak cladding and a clock on the front, but it’s constructed using MMC and SIP. That’s a really good case study for us because it shows how we are using SIP panels to create traditional looking buildings, in keeping with the surroundings, which was particularly important on this heritage site.
“We position ourselves as a hybrid Main Contractor that specialises in MMC. We do everything for our clients, including sub and super-structures, but are hybrid in that we use traditional foundations, so you’ve got a good, robust concrete floor, then a sustainable, cost-effective and quick superstructure which, once it is erected, can be given whatever finish or cladding the client wants, flipping back to traditional construction to fi t out the building.
“One of the projects we worked on recently was particularly tricky to access and so we had to build a temporary road round the back of the school to get to the site, and remove 2,000 cubic metres of soil to construct the building within a steep hill, and that is all part of the service we offer. But then once everything is ready, we’re bringing a structure that has been manufactured off site, purpose built, to be erected on site, cutting down the time we need to be on site and the disruption we cause.”
The Qube’s site at Teeton, a new purpose-built headquarters that has been home to the company for the past three years, is where all projects are managed, from the initial enquiry through to completion, by the experienced team.
“Certainly, the move to a great site in the countryside has been a factor in our growth and success,” said Jordan.
“It feels like we’ve taken a few risks over the past few years, with the move and some key new appointments, but they are definitely paying off .
“Education will always be a major sector for us, but we’re looking to branch out into small residential developments over the next few years and want to start looking at more opportunities in the commercial sector as well.
“We’ve had a year of excellent growth but that doesn’t mean we haven’t encountered challenges along the way, there are always a few lessons you learn and few things you know you won’t do again, but I’ve come out stronger for it and the team have come out stronger for it.
“There’s definitely a feeling that we have the confidence to tender for things now that we would never have looked at in the past and that’s how we’re going to keep this momentum going.”
To find out more about The Qube call 01604 785786, email them at hello@theqube.co.uk or visit their website here.
