A £1m mayoral loan enables a Liverpool city region business that makes insulated panels for modular homes to create 25 jobs at its new factory. Tony McDonough reports

Specialist insulated panel manufacturer Hemsec has created 25 jobs and two apprenticeships at its new Merseyside factory after securing a £1m loan.

Hemsec opened its 84,000 sq ft manufacturing facility at Huyton Business Park in August 2022 to add to its existing plant in Rainhill. This year the business has secured a £1m loan from Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Flexible Growth Fund for new investment.

Thanks to this cash injection the firm, which was founded in 1928, has bought new machinery to step up production of its structural insulated panels (SIPs) which are used in the construction of modular homes, now a booming sector.

It also means Hemsec, which generates annual revenues of more than £13m, has been able to create jobs and apprenticeships for local people.

Almost a century ago, Cyril Hemmings set up the business to supply insulated cabinets for ice-cream makers. Today, it supplies its panels to multiple sectors. The panels are designed to keep cold air out or keep it in.

Hemsec was one of the UK’s first to develop SIPs for residential applications at scale in 2007, foreseeing the UK’s need for more energy-efficient buildings, and for fast construction using modern methods of construction (MMC).

Panelised construction is a modern method of construction that involves the fabrication of structural panels off-site, which are then transported to the construction site for assembly.

SIPs provide a superior airtightness and insulation level, particularly in comparison to traditional masonry methods of building homes, producing homes that can significantly improve standards of living and are cheaper to heat.

Local housing associations are using Hemsec’s panels for the development of low-carbon homes which can be built at speed and cost a fraction of price to heat.

Stephen Painter, managing director of Hemsec, said: “The opening of Hemsec’s SIPs manufacturing hub represents a transformative moment for Liverpool city region and the British manufacturing industry.

“With the capabilities of this pioneering press machine, we have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the construction of much-needed truly affordable social housing, providing safe and sustainable homes for our communities.

“A fabric-first approach to sustainable buildings is crucial for ensuring the performance of our homes is optimised now and remains for the lifetime of the building, securing longevity in energy efficiency.”

Established by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority with £20m in 2020, the Flexible Growth Fund is managed by River Capital and offers SMEs flexible, low-interest loans of up to £1m, which means Hemsec secured the maximum.

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Mr Rotheram added: “This is exactly what our Flexible Growth Fund was created for—empowering local companies to innovate, create jobs, and stay ahead in their field.

“Hemsec’s new manufacturing hub is not just an investment in their future but in the future of our region, driving forward our ambitions to be a leader in modern, energy efficient construction.”