Factory Tour: Thurston Group

Where: Quarry Hill Industrial Estate, Quarry Hill, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 6AJ
When: 9:00am - 11:30am

Overview

Step inside Thurston Group’s newly revitalised world of modular construction, where a 50-plus-year heritage meets a bold, forward-thinking vision for the future. Spread across four manufacturing sites and backed by a 360+-strong workforce, Thurston Group has set its sights on becoming both the UK’s offsite manufacturer of choice and the region’s employer of choice. After years under the old guard, the business underwent a major leadership transition—giving Managing Director, Matt (an award-winning figure in manufacturing leadership), the green light to invest in people, processes, and technology at a scale previously unseen.

On this exclusive tour, you’ll see how Thurston Group has shifted from “reactive firefighting” to a pro-active, continuous improvement culture. Expect to hear about the company’s impressive leaps in industry frameworks—going from 60% scores to the high 80s—and learn how their machine shop investment, new certification programmes, and massive approach to staff training are fuelling real growth. You’ll also get the inside track on Thurston’s transformation story: how a leadership team of fresh faces arrived and, in under two years, reshaped a traditional, paper-heavy operation into a data-driven, people-focused powerhouse with a robust order book and big ambitions for further expansion

Agenda

• 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM: Registration, breakfast, and networking

• 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM: Welcome & introduction—Thurston Group’s journey and key milestones

• 10:15 AM – 10:50 AM: Guided factory tour in groups

• 10:50 AM - 11:15 AM: Panel discussion—candid insights on culture shifts, offsite manufacturing best practices and leadership lessons learned

• 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM: Relaxed networking and event conclusion.

Members who attend will gain:

• A front-row view of cultural transformation – discover how Thurston Group broke away from a decades-old mindset, driving accountability, innovation, and proactive problem-solving.

• Practical lessons in scaling operations – learn how big leaps in training, certification, and vertical integration help control supply chains and future-proof the workforce.

• Insights into strategic frameworks – find out how Thurston Group boosted its scores from the 60s to the high 80s, winning more high-value bids and forging new client relationships.

• Inspiration for investing in people – hear how leadership training and “next-gen” development programmes empower teams, foster loyalty, and attract fresh talent into manufacturing.