The Off-Site Shift: How UK Construction is Changing

Industrialised construction is no longer just a talking point – it’s increasingly becoming a reality across UK projects. From local authorities to tier-one contractors, the industry is shifting towards faster, more consistent, and more controlled ways of building. Driving that change is a growing reliance on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), with off-site manufacture playing a central role.

As a UK-leading manufacturer of smoke control products, we’re right in the thick of this shift, and it’s changing the way buildings are delivered, for the better. 

What is industrialised construction? 

In short: it’s the process of applying factory thinking to how we build.  

That might mean complete volumetric units built off-site, or it could be individual components like staircases, balconies, or mechanical smoke extract fan pods delivered ready to install. Either way, the key principle is the same: build it in a controlled environment, then install it on-site with speed and precision.  

Off-site manufacture doesn’t follow a single model – and that’s exactly what makes it so useful. It can take many forms, from pre-assembled mechanical smoke extract fan pods and balconies to panelised façade systems, volumetric bathrooms, kitchens, or even complete apartments. And that’s just the start. 

Whether it's whole buildings or critical components, industrialised construction is about shifting complexity away from site and into the factory.  

Why it’s taking off fast  

The benefits are hard to ignore:  

• Speed: Shorter programmes, faster installs  

• Safety: Fewer site hours, less working at height  

• Certainty: Components tested, signed off, and delivered with confidence  

• Sustainability: Less waste, better material use, lower emissions  

As site constraints tighten and demand keeps rising, building in the traditional way is becoming less viable. Add in an ageing workforce and an industry-wide skills gap, and suddenly the need to do more with less becomes business critical.  

Off-site lies at the heart of this shift  

At Sertus, we’ve embraced off-site manufacture from day one. We design, build, wire, and test our smoke control products in-house – so when they land on your site, they just work. It’s safer for your teams, more efficient for your project schedule, and easier to coordinate with other trades.  

Our approach supports industrialised construction by:  

• Removing risk from site installs  

• Simplifying sequencing with predictable deliveries  

• Improving reliability through factory-level Quality Assurance (QA) 

• Supporting design flexibility, with early engagement and BIM integration  

• Reducing environmental impact, by cutting on-site waste and transport emissions through batch manufacturing and consolidated deliveries  

Whether you're an installer trying to stay on track, a contractor balancing logistics, or an architect pushing for performance and aesthetics, off-site is your answer.  

This isn’t a future concept. It’s happening now.  

If you want to deliver better outcomes for your clients, and make your installs easier and more predictable, we’re here to help.  

Ready to make it work on your next project? Let’s talk. 

About Sertus 

Sertus is a UK-based manufacturer of smoke control products, supporting safer, more compliant buildings through innovative, high-quality solutions. With a strong focus on off-site manufacture and modern methods of construction (MMC), Sertus delivers fully tested, factory-built products designed to simplify installation, reduce risk, and meet the demands of today’s construction environment. From early-stage design to post-install support, Sertus partners with contractors, architects, consultants, and developers to deliver smoke control that works – every time. It’s all part of our mission to make it simple. Learn more at sertus.uk. For all media enquiries, please contact us at hello@sertus.uk or call 01483 269999.