Industrial &
Manufacturing
Factories · Process Plant · Production · Warehousing · Live Environments
Matthews & Roberts supports industrial and manufacturing contractors across the UK with project, programme, commercial, safety and technical capability — from tender through mobilisation, plant installation, shutdowns and handover.
Industrial construction has to work around more than the building. Production systems, specialist equipment, utilities, controls, shutdowns and commissioning all need to remain aligned with the construction programme.
Industrial and manufacturing contractor support across the UK
Industrial and manufacturing projects are defined by interfaces. Civil works need to suit specialist plant. Buildings need to be ready for equipment installation. Electrical and mechanical services need to match process requirements.
OEMs and specialist suppliers need access at the right stage. Shutdowns and tie-ins need to happen within controlled windows. And commissioning depends on completed construction, systems and documentation.
Matthews & Roberts works alongside Principal Contractors and specialist contractors delivering factories, process plant, production facilities and industrial upgrades — providing the programme, commercial, safety, Temporary Works, quality and project controls needed across those interfaces.
Industrial and manufacturing — one broad sector
Industrial projects are shaped by interfaces the programme must manage
Live Production Interfaces
Construction may need to progress beside or within an operational facility, creating access, segregation, logistics and permit interfaces.
Shutdown Windows
Activities that cannot occur while plant operates need detailed preparation so the available window is used as efficiently as possible.
OEM & Vendor Coordination
Specialist equipment suppliers have their own installation sequences, access requirements and testing dependencies that need integrating with construction.
Long-Lead Equipment
Process equipment, specialist plant and electrical gear can determine the critical path long before installation begins.
MEP & Process Services
Electrical systems, process pipework, utilities, controls, ventilation and drainage need to suit both the building and the process equipment it contains.
Temporary Works
Heavy lifting, structural modification, temporary propping, access and equipment installation can require significant Temporary Works across the programme.
Construction Completion
Commissioning becomes inefficient when systems are released before installation, quality records and outstanding defects have reached the required state.
Commercial Change
Process design development, vendor information and existing conditions can affect programme, resources, access and cost throughout delivery.
Construction does not always get an empty factory
Manufacturing upgrades are frequently delivered beside or within operational facilities. The contractor may need to manage construction access, isolations, logistics, temporary services, hot works, dust, plant movements and specialist installations without unnecessarily disrupting production. Matthews & Roberts can support the project controls around those interfaces.
When the programme comes down to a short operational window
Shutdowns, isolations, service connections and process tie-ins need detailed preparation before the window begins. Matthews & Roberts can support contractor teams in integrating shutdown activities into the construction programme and coordinating readiness across work packages. Operational isolation decisions remain with the appropriately responsible parties.
The building and the machine have to meet at the same point
Industrial projects frequently involve OEM equipment whose installation requirements directly affect the building works. Bases, openings, steelwork, lifting access, electrical supplies, process services, ventilation, drainage, controls and commissioning dependencies need to be coordinated before equipment arrives.
Industrial upgrades often start with what is already there
Before new equipment can be installed, existing plant, services or structures may need isolating, dismantling, modifying or removing. Brownfield work introduces uncertainty around existing conditions, retained systems, structural interfaces and operational continuity. Matthews & Roberts can support contractor teams in coordinating pre-construction information, programme, Temporary Works, H&S and commercial risk.
Construction around process-driven manufacturing
Paper, packaging and fibre-processing facilities combine building work with significant process, mechanical, electrical and material-handling interfaces. Projects may involve production machinery, conveyors, utilities, dust extraction, fire systems, water, drainage, electrical infrastructure and shutdown-dependent tie-ins. Matthews & Roberts has particular experience supporting construction within these environments.
Integrate construction, equipment and commissioning in one programme
Industrial programmes need to integrate design release, equipment manufacture, vendor information, FAT where relevant, delivery, civil readiness, installation, process services, electrical completion, testing, shutdowns and commissioning — not just building activities.
Matthews & Roberts can support contractors with tender programmes, baselines, project controls, look-aheads, milestone tracking and recovery.
Commissioning cannot fix incomplete construction
Industrial commissioning becomes inefficient when systems are released before installation, inspection, documentation and outstanding defects have reached the required completion level. Matthews & Roberts can support contractor teams in establishing clear construction-completion criteria before equipment, systems or areas move into testing and commissioning.
Temporary Works enable heavy industrial installation
Industrial projects can involve significant Temporary Works around lifting, access, excavation, structural modification, equipment installation and temporary stability. Large industrial equipment may require heavy lifting, temporary openings, structural checks and specialist access — activities that need integrating into the wider programme.
Matthews & Roberts can provide TWC and Temporary Works support. Management of Temporary Works procedures follows BS 5975-1:2024. Appointment as Appointed Person for lifting remains with the formally competent party.
Temporary Works may include
Industrial risk changes as construction meets operations
Industrial construction can combine normal construction risk with live plant, energy sources, process systems, hazardous substances, lifting, confined spaces and operational interfaces.
DSEAR & hazardous-area interfaces
DSEAR — the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 — places duties on employers to assess and control risks from dangerous substances, including fire and explosion risks. Where such atmospheres may occur, areas may require hazardous-area classification. For contractors, methodology, equipment, permits, hot work, access, Temporary Works and sequencing may all need to reflect those requirements. Specialist hazardous-area classification and verification remain with appropriately competent appointed parties.
Matthews & Roberts can provide contractor-side H&S and CDM support around mobilisation and live delivery.
Technical change has commercial consequences
Industrial projects frequently evolve through process design, specialist-vendor information, equipment requirements, existing conditions and changed installation sequences — all of which can affect programme, resources, access and cost.
Matthews & Roberts can support contractor teams in keeping contractual notices, change, programme impact and commercial records aligned with live project delivery.
Industrial & manufacturing delivery services
Types of support we provide
Support around the industrial team you already have
Industrial contractors do not always need permanent additional capability across every project phase. Matthews & Roberts can provide targeted resource during tender, mobilisation, plant installation, shutdowns, peak construction, commissioning-readiness or project recovery.
Project-Specific
Around a defined industrial project.
Embedded
Alongside the contractor's delivery team.
Retained
Across tenders, mobilisations and live projects.
Critical interfaces need identifying before they reach site
Matthews & Roberts can support contractors during tender and pre-construction by reviewing delivery methodology, programme, shutdown planning, logistics, commercial, Temporary Works and H&S arrangements before mobilisation.
Tender & Pre-Construction SupportIndustrial & manufacturing questions
Yes. Matthews & Roberts works alongside contractors delivering factories, manufacturing facilities, process plant, production upgrades and industrial refurbishment across the UK, providing project, programme, commercial, H&S, CDM, Temporary Works and quality support as required.
Yes. We can support the project controls around access, segregation, existing services, permits, shutdowns, Temporary Works, logistics and operational interfaces. The specific controls should reflect the site's operational rules and project risk assessment.
Yes. Matthews & Roberts can support programme and readiness planning around shutdown-dependent construction, service connections and tie-ins, including design, material, resource, access, isolation and testing dependencies.
Yes. We can support coordination between the contractor, specialist vendors and construction packages around equipment bases, access, lifting, MEP services, utilities, installation sequencing and commissioning readiness.
Yes. Quantity Surveying support can include applications, variations, measurement, subcontract accounts, CVR, forecasting and final account across industrial and manufacturing construction.
Yes. We can review design, procurement, specialist equipment, construction, shutdown and commissioning constraints and help contractor teams establish a structured recovery plan.
Yes. We can provide TWC and Temporary Works support around equipment installation, access, temporary propping, working platforms, excavations, lifting interfaces and structural modifications.
DSEAR — the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 — addresses risks from dangerous substances that can cause fire, explosion or similar events. Where DSEAR requirements affect a project, relevant hazardous areas, information, controls and specialist assessments need to be reflected in the construction arrangements. Specialist assessment and classification remains with the appropriately competent parties.
Yes. Matthews & Roberts can support contractor teams working across paper, packaging, fibre-processing and recycling environments where process plant, material handling, utilities, construction and live operational interfaces need coordinating.
Yes. We can support system and area readiness, construction-completion criteria, defect tracking, quality records, programme interfaces and coordination between construction, specialist vendors and commissioning teams.
Yes, where the project falls within our appointed capability. Controlled environments can involve requirements such as ISO 14644 air-cleanliness classification. Matthews & Roberts can support the construction, programme, quality and commissioning interfaces around those requirements.
Explore other sectors
Need additional capability around an industrial project?
Whether you are tendering a new manufacturing facility, upgrading a live factory, installing specialist plant, planning a shutdown or recovering a programme before commissioning, Matthews & Roberts can strengthen the project, commercial, programme, safety and technical capability around your contractor team.
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