Driving Confidence, Collaboration and Change: Highlights from the BOPAS Forum at Laing O’Rourke
BUILDOFFSITE brought together innovators, policymakers, manufacturers, and developers at one of the UK’s most advanced construction manufacturing facilities—Laing O’Rourke’s Centre of Excellence—for a powerful day of discussion, collaboration, and sector leadership.
As the founding body behind the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS), BUILDOFFSITE created the accreditation to address industry concerns around Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)—and to provide lenders, developers, and homeowners with the confidence they need to invest in innovative building systems. Since 2013, BOPAS has helped ensure that homes built using MMC are mortgageable, durable, and resilient for at least 60 years.
Celebrating Leadership in Accreditation
A central moment of the day was the celebration of newly accredited organisations. We were proud to award BOPAS Accreditation certificates to four forward-thinking companies who are leading the way in quality and innovation:
🏆 Trident Modular
🏆 Reds 10
🏆 Saint-Gobain
🏆 Hadley Frame
These companies are not only meeting the rigorous requirements of BOPAS but also helping shape a more confident and capable MMC market. Their achievements set the standard for what quality looks like in modern construction.
A Global Growth Story — and the UK’s Moment of Reckoning
One message came through loud and clear: the UK risks falling behind. While countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Canada, and Singapore are accelerating with joined-up national MMC strategies, the UK still lacks a coherent framework. A recent House of Lords report laid bare this policy vacuum—and the consequences it’s having for confidence, investment, and delivery.
The recently announced £39 billion housing investment from Rachel Reeves (as reported in The Guardian, 10 June 2025) offers a much-needed injection of capital. But investment without direction is not a strategy. Unless this funding is underpinned by regulatory clarity and delivery frameworks, we will still be having the same conversations five years from now.
From Manifesto to Momentum: The BOS Response
That’s why we launched the BOS MANIFESTO 2025-2030—a sector-wide call to action to normalise Modern Methods of Construction and dismantle the structural barriers holding it back. From robust accreditation to collaborative capacity-sharing frameworks, we’re driving practical solutions that move beyond rhetoric.
The Downtime Sprint Initiative, launched by BUILDOFFSITE in partnership with The Offsite Guide, is a key example. With too many MMC factories operating well below capacity—particularly SMEs—we’re gathering industry intelligence to create a Downtime Sprint Framework: a roadmap for filling idle capacity, building resilience, and unlocking shared opportunities, regardless of the pace of policy reform.
Innovation in the Public Eye
Looking further ahead, we’re proud to be working with Refolo Landscape Architects, CIRIA, and Future Water to deliver a SuDS garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2027. It’s more than just a showpiece. It’s a platform to showcase sustainable water infrastructure, climate resilience, and the power of offsite—where the public can see it, touch it, and be inspired by it. Get involved now using this link to register your support.
Driving Change Through Leadership
Our expert panel—featuring leaders from Studio Partington, Laing O’Rourke, Hadley Group, and Arup—tackled the pressing questions facing the MMC sector: digital productivity, design consistency, manufacturing flexibility, and the future of PAS 8700. The takeaway? Without regulatory direction, the sector cannot scale with certainty.
A tour of Laing O’Rourke’s facility brought that point to life. We saw automation, robotics, and material innovation (like 50% concrete reduction with a target of 80%) in action. We heard how MMC is central to public sector framework agreements, with targets of 70% offsite delivery. The capability is already here—now we need the policy to match.
Final Word: Action Over Aspiration
The government’s housing ambition is welcome. But money without mechanism won’t deliver the outcomes we need. The sector needs joined-up regulation, strategic leadership, and long-term collaboration between industry, government, and investors.
Let’s not waste this moment. The technology is here. The skills are here. The ambition is here.
Let’s make MMC the rule—not the exception.
Join us at our next event: REDUCING BARRIERS TO MMC
Join us on 1 July as we launch new MMC guidance and deliver on our manifesto promises.
✅ Fresh insight
✅ Practical frameworks
✅ A seat at the table
👉Reducing barriers to MMC – new guidance | Buildoffsite
Fareita Udoh