£10m investment creates 38 new jobs at McAvoy Group

The group delivers fast-track design and build projects comprising permanent buildings, extensions to existing buildings and hire modules, and has plans to grow its turnover to £100m by 2020.

The investment, which was announced today (Wednesday) by Economy Minister Simon Hamilton, has already led to the creation of 24 posts.

The company plans to grow its Permanent Modular Construction Division, replenish its Hire Division stock, invest in new IT infrastructure - and as a result a total of 38 new roles have been created - 24 of which are already staffed.

Invest Northern Ireland has offered an Employment Grant of £198,000 to support the creation of 18 of the jobs and £135,000 under it Skills Growth Programme towards the company’s training activities.

Welcoming the investment, Minister Hamilton said: “The McAvoy Group has been a leading player within the offsite modular construction sector in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland for a number of years.

“The company is driving forward a robust growth strategy targeting new clients and procurement frameworks in the healthcare, education, residential and commercial markets. This multi-million pound investment will help the company to achieve its ambitious growth targets as well as contributing additional salaries to the local economy."

The McAvoy Group currently employs 170 people and has offices in the UK and Ireland. The roles are across the company’s Coalisland and Lisburn offices.

Eugene Lynch, Managing Director of McAvoy Group, said: “This investment is focused on growing our permanent modular construction division and consolidating the company as a key player in the UK market. The new roles are in design, contract and cost management positions and we plan to recruit a further 14 jobs as well as graduates and apprentices roles over the next 12 months.

“We have been successfully operating as a principal contractor in recent years and this strategic development is aimed at replicating our success in the education sector within other sectors.”

Over the past 44 years McAvoy has delivered more than three million m2 of modular accommodation for the education, health, commercial, infrastructure and hospitality sectors. The company recently handed over an £18m project for Goresbrook School in Daegenham, London and is currently working on a £20m project for Lynch Hill School in Slough - one of the UK’s largest ever offsite modular constructed Secondary Schools.