The Michelmersh Group’s Year in Review 2023
2023 marked yet another triumphant year for the Michelmersh Group. Throughout the year, the Group surpassed a variety of sustainability targets, welcomed new skilled employees to the business, received prestigious architectural and industry-recognised awards, unveiled innovative products and explored novel ways to showcase its portfolio. As we embark on 2024, we eagerly anticipate the development of new products and exciting initiatives. Read on as we look back at some of the remarkable highlights that defined our success in 2023.
January
January saw the reveal of our second generation of i-line bricks. After the overwhelming popularity of this linear, contemporary brick range, our second generation started being produced at our Floren facility, benefiting from the facility’s incredible ability to produce beautiful products of varying sizes and its focus for sustainability credentials, covering a robust range of tones based on Floren’s pre-existing product collections.
February
In February we introduced seven new electric forklifts to our Michelmersh facility in line with our ESG KPI targets, to achieve a fully electric/hybrid forklift fleet by 2030. Each new electric vehicle reduces a site’s emissions and contributes to the wider Group goal of decarbonisation towards net zero.
March
Michelmersh’s pocket-sized swatchbook was released in March, with it swiftly being adopted by the wider construction community. It serves the twofold goal of being a handy onsite brick-matching guide to the Michelmersh product range as well as an inventive way of reducing paper, all whilst winning praise amongst its users. Arranged in a colour gradient which features the Group’s full core range, finding the right brick for your project has never been easier and the swatchbook remains popular with architects, homeowners, distributors and merchants across the country for its functionality and ease of use.
April
In April we celebrated the launch of the International Rugby Experience in Limerick, Ireland. Designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects the Experience has become one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland and uses legacy Charnwood products. Careful consideration was paid to the choice of handmade bricks to ensure the project blended smoothly and conscientiously into Limerick’s Georgian Quarter while allowing it to stand out boldly by itself. This goal was further achieved by the project’s height, where visitors can opt to survey the area via its crowning public hall.
May
Michelmersh doubled down on both its staff training and efficiency in May with its HGV operators undergoing a Volvo-led driver efficiency improvement program designed to help drivers learn about techniques to reduce fuel consumption, such as accelerating and braking more gradually, maintaining a steady speed and adaption, avoiding unnecessary idling and correct engine and gear utilisation. As a result of the training, the HGV drivers were able to significantly improve their fuel efficiency rating. The reduction in fuel consumption equates to a decrease in carbon emissions, which is an important driving factor for Michelmersh’s sustainability ethos and wider ESG Strategy.
June
RIBA regional awards are a symbol of excellence worldwide, with the awards having run for more than 180 years. June saw Michelmersh achieve five RIBA Regional Award wins! Chobham Manor, Houlton School, Eton Sports & Aquatics Centre, The Pears Building and Agar Grove all championed Michelmersh products and utilised them to exemplary standards.
July
The Group was excited to launch SustainableBrick.com in July, a one-stop shop highlighting the benefits of sustainable clay brick across the industry. The environmental benefits of clay brick is well known to those within the sector, but SustainableBrick.com aims to increase this reach even further. July also saw the Group donate over 100,000 bricks for yet another year, to educational facilities around the UK with its Pledge100 initiative.
August
With August came the Group’s announcement of its investment in off-site manufacturing. The acquisition of FabSpeed in 2022 progressed with significant investment in its off-site manufacturing capability to accommodate new products and increase brick slip cutting production. Further to this, Floren launched its new Reflections Collection, a 65mm thick, double-faced brick range boasting a wide variety of sustainability credentials due to the efficiency of production, making it the perfect choice for specifiers seeking a cost-effective, versatile and elegant product suitable for pre-fabrication systems.
September
In September we saw the launch of the FabSpeed Bricology range which delivers brick products which include façade habitats. This comes as part of a biodiversity drive to support the protection of some of Britain’s native creatures and ecosystems. After seeing a 56% decrease in native UK species between 1970 and 2023, the construction industry has stepped forward to do its part in preserving native species where possible and FabSpeed’s Bee, Starling, Sparrow and Bat habitats are available to offer sanctuary in new homes and retrofit scenarios.
October
After 100 years since their initial partnership, we revisited Hathern Terra Cotta’s collaboration with STEAMhouse’s forebearer, Eccles Rubber and Cycle Company. Hathern Terra Cotta was brought into the project after the structure was damaged and required restoration, ultimately supplying over 2,500 units as part of the rebuild. Now STEAMhouse is future-proofed for the use of its inhabitants with a “Very Good” BREEAM rating as well as accessible areas, state-of-the-art IT facilities and more whilst showcasing the beautiful hand-crafted faïence masterpieces by the Hathern Terra Cotta team.
November
The 47th Brick Development Associations Brick Awards saw five wins across five categories for the Michelmersh Group with exceptional submissions from leading architects.
The Becontree Estate by Archio – Small Housing Development
Queens Quay by MAST Architects – Urban Regeneration
Globe Point – Commercial
Black Country Living Museum – Public
International Rugby Experience – Worldwide.
The Group was thrilled to see success across such a diverse range of projects, including a commendation given to Eton College Sports & Aquatics Centre by Hopkins Architects in the Education category.
December
As 2023 grew to an end we looked at the success of the Becontree Estate – often referred to as the largest public housing scheme in the world. Launched in the 1920’s under the “Homes for Heroes” pledge, the site grew over the following decades, with Archio’s addition of its award-winning urban villas a more recent addition, but still channelling the optimism of the estate’s initial surge. This expansive regeneration scheme included a large volume of our ever popular First Quality Multi products from the Freshfield Lane brand.
For more information on The Michelmersh Group’s news, projects and announcements visit: www.mbhplc.co.uk/news/
