DGRE is excited to bring a business sale of the timber frame/Passivhaus manufacturer to the market.
The business is an STA (Structural Timber Association) member with Gold accreditation for the last 4 years.
Background: This Cumbria-based company specializes in the design, fabrication, and installation of high-performance timber-panel frames, with a focus on Passivhaus standards and low-energy building. Operating since 2014, the company delivers custom, factory-built insulated panels for projects ranging from residential extensions to large-scale structures.
Based in a leasehold premises in Cumbria, the company has been at the forefront of the Passivhaus and low-energy timber frame buildings industry since 2014. It has supplied timber frames all over the UK, from the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland to Bournemouth Beach on the South Coast.
The company has developed its own timber frame system which delivers excellent levels of insulation, resulting in remarkably low U-values with minimised thermal bridging. This also allows the business to achieve the high standards of airtightness that are required for Passivhaus certification, with none of its buildings in the last 4 years registering an airtightness level greater than 0.2 air changes per hour.
The company has supplied timber frames in all sizes, from the smallest 16m² extension right up to a 1550m² 400-seat refectory.
History, Reason for Sale and Handover: The current owner purchased the business in 2018 and since that date has been developing the product.
EPC ratings for the buildings are generally A or B depending on the heating systems adopted within the buildings.
The intellectual property of the business includes a patentable flooring system.
The business is a Structural Timber Association member and currently has a Gold accreditation, which goes alongside its ISO9001:2015 accreditation.
The business subjected its structural wall panel to a rigorous fire test in 2024, successfully keeping its integrity for 86 minutes.
The business does not actively market its services beyond its website, with most of its customers coming from word-of-mouth referrals, especially from eco-architects.
This is a retirement sale.
The current owner will agree to a 6-12-month handover period to ensure that a purchaser has a sufficient bedding-in period.
Staffing: The business has 9 full-time and 1 part-time employee. The full-time staff are an Operations Manager, Buyer/Project Manager, 2 factory foremen, 4 timber frame fabricators, and the Managing Director. The part-time employee is an accounts/wages/secretary.
Design and engineer services are currently subcontracted but could readily be brought in-house with the employment of suitable staff.
Trade Inventory: The business has a full trade inventory, which will be included in the sale, including 2 vans, 1 forklift, various saws, compressors, drills, slings, ladders, nail guns, etc., as well as an office pod and toilet/restroom pod.
A full inventory is available to potential purchasers following the signature of a non-disclosure agreement.
The vendor estimates the value of the trade inventory to be in excess of £220,000.
Financial Performance: Full financial and location details are available following the signature of a non-disclosure agreement. The business has a turnover in excess of £1,100,000 for the current financial year.
Orderbook: The company has a c.£1m contract until March 2027 to supply buildings to a Buddhist monastery in Hemel Hempstead.
Diversification: The business currently operates on a low-volume basis, generally manufacturing and building 6-8 projects per year to suit the business owner, but it would be easily and readily scalable.
Production could also be split with satellite sites in different geographic locations or specialised to produce roof systems.
The business is easily relocatable, although the current staff live in and around Appleby.
Currently, it takes the business an average of approximately 1 week to assemble a standard 3-bedroom house. Roof systems take less than 1 day to install.
Asking price:
Offers in excess of £1,200,000.
Viewings and supplemental information:
Through DGRE only.
