Accommodation specialist Aiken Group has won onshore work worth in the region of £1 million.
The Aberdeen-based company, which is well known for its offshore expertise in accommodation provision, has recently made significant inroads into key onshore sectors, particularly onshore construction and this latest announcement underlines its growth within this emerging marketplace.
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The new work comprises a series of temporary buildings for the education and aviation markets in the South East of England, and a £500,000 project in London as part of the Thames Tideway Tunnel Project which commenced last year. The latter involves Aiken Group providing site-based accommodation such as offices, meeting rooms and welfare facilities, initially on the underpass of London’s Blackfriars Bridge.
Additionally, Aiken Group has been selected as a contractor by Fusion 21 as part of a £225m national education framework for the provision of modular buildings. The framework is due to commence this month and will cover a four-year period with a one-year extension. It offers a flexible procurement solution to all education providers and local authorities who require temporary or permanent quality modular buildings to meet the latest building control standards.
Commenting on the Blackfriars project, Aiken Group Operations Director Richard Lamb said: “This project presented unique challenges due to access restrictions and two of our modular buildings had to be delivered by river barge in a ‘flat-pack’ format. Tidal restrictions on working hours then needed to be factored in but all issues were overcome and the modules were delivered safely and within project timescales.
“A further two buildings will be located on top of the bridge and are sited on a bespoke grillage platform due to weight restrictions and the sensitivities of nearby infrastructure.
“The Fusion 21 award adds strength to our intentions in becoming a key supplier of land-based modular accommodation and comes directly on the back of a number of high profile awards already under construction across the UK.”
He added: “Aiken Group’s continuing diversification into new sectors such as construction enables us to take skills developed in the offshore environment and successfully apply them to onshore situations. We are confident that this strategy is important in broadening our corporate horizons and underpinning our ‘one-stop shop’ ethos.”
