Survey Reveals Structural Downtime Across UK Offsite Manufacturing — Industry Calls for Shared Capacity and Government Action

A new survey from The Offsite Guide and Buildoffsite has revealed that downtime across UK modular and offsite manufacturing is both widespread and structural, with most factories reporting 10–25% under‑utilised capacity. The findings, drawn from senior leaders across 13 UK manufacturers, show that idle production lines are not caused by technical limitations but by pipeline instability, planning friction and cash‑flow risk.

The Pre‑Workshop Survey: Unlocking Downtime in Offsite Manufacturing—completed ahead of the Downtime Workshop on 11 November—quantifies the scale of the challenge and the appetite for reform. According to the report, 11 of 13 respondents experience downtime at least annually, and many quarterly. The majority expressed conditional interest in a shared‑capacity marketplace, where projects could be matched to spare factory slots under clear standards, insurance and confidentiality rules.

Respondents also signalled strong support for government intervention, with ten calling for funding or policy incentives to mitigate downtime. The most valued measures include grants for collaborative manufacturing projects, tax incentives for efficiency improvements, and low‑interest finance to stabilise operations during public‑sector delays.

The survey’s implications are clear: downtime is a systemic risk that demands coordinated action. It recommends progressing a shared‑capacity pilot, designing a targeted support package, and embedding evidence‑based MMC standards through trade bodies and policy.

As the report concludes, the sector is ready to collaborate—but government must step forward as an enabler, not a bystander.

📄 Read the full report: TOG Survey Findings