Construction begins on 85,000 sqft advanced manufacturing centre for motorhome and caravan electrical systems

Construction has begun on a new factory for electrical equipment manufacturer Sargent Electrical Services in Beverley. Building crews are now on site at the Grovehill location which will house the company’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

Groundworks are currently in progress as part of an initial construction phase for the 85,000 sq ft facility which has been designed to operate predominantly off grid. Crews from Triton Construction are now readying the site for the building’s steel framework, which is anticipated to arrive within weeks.

Family-run Sargent describes the project as a substantial investment and says it will underpin plans to expand its workforce from roughly 140 to 200 employees. The business hopes the new facility will become operational from April next year.

The factory will provide Sargent with additional capacity for its production of electrical systems for motorhomes and caravans. It will also deliver new office accommodation and employee amenities.

Triton has been named as principal contractor and will oversee the entire project, managing all specialist subcontractors and building services using its track record of delivering industrial, logistics and manufacturing developments throughout the North of England, reports Hull Live.

Paul Clarkson, managing director at Triton Construction, said: “This is a fantastic project for our team and an important investment in advanced manufacturing in East Yorkshire. Triton Construction is ready to deliver this facility and showcase our expertise in the industrial, logistics and manufacturing sectors.

“Having successfully delivered industrial developments across the region for clients including Mileway, Marshalls CPD, Chancerygate and Hanson Logistics, we look forward to bringing that experience to the Sargent Advanced Manufacturing Centre.”

James Burgess, contracts manager at Triton Construction, added: “With construction now underway our focus is on maintaining a safe, well-coordinated programme. We will be working diligently with local residents and other neighbours to be a considerate constructor.”

Ian Sargent, managing director of Sargent Electrical Services, said: “The Advanced Manufacturing Centre represents a major step forward for our business. It will allow us to expand manufacturing capacity, improve efficiency and create a modern facility that reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability. We are delighted to be working with Triton Construction to deliver this important investment in the future of our business.”

The £14.8m turnover Sargent specialises in constructing intricate wiring systems and, alongside its established niche in motorhomes and caravans, has also achieved notable success on large-scale projects, including several prominent London landmarks. The firm has also developed telemetry-based systems utilised in precision farming, providing farmers with valuable data on soil conditions and other key variables.

Sargent secured planning permission last year for the Grovehill site, which formerly housed a care home. The company currently operates from a unit at Tokenspire Business Park.

Gas prices are climbing fast nationwide, adding pressure to already strained household budgets as conflict with Iran drives up global oil costs.

Prices are rising across nearly every region, with some states already well above the national average.

As of April 1, the national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.06 per gallon, according to AAA – up $1.08 from a month earlier. 

On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.89 per gallon in California and $5.35 in Washington. 

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On the East Coast, gas prices are approaching or exceeding $4 in several areas, including $4.19 in Washington, D.C., and $3.98 in New York. 

In the Midwest, Illinois stands out at $4.25 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the mid-$3 range. Southern states remain cheaper overall, though prices are rising. Texas averages about $3.77 and South Carolina at $3.90, while Florida is higher at $4.21.

A man pumps gas into his truck at a fuel station. (M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, diesel is outpacing gasoline due to its link to freight and industry, meaning increases can ripple through supply chains and raise costs across the economy.

Diesel currently stands at $5.49 a gallon, up $1.73 from a month ago, according to AAA, surpassing $5 for the first time since December 2022 as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies.

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More closely tied to freight and industry, diesel is rising faster than gasoline, amplifying the risk of higher costs across supply chains and the broader economy. (Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

“Gas prices could indeed fall, but are highly unlikely to go back to their pre-war levels for months, in part due to the amount of time needed for global inventories to build back,” wrote Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

De Haan said seasonal factors are also working against drivers. Demand typically rises heading into the summer months, while refinery maintenance and the switch to summer gasoline blends can further push prices higher.

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With the midterm elections approaching, the rise in energy and housing costs could pose a challenge for President Donald Trump, who has pledged to make life more affordable for American families.

The 2026 ProCon Awards are seeking the best new buildings and other construction projects in Leicestershire and Rutland, plus a rising star of the industry.

Entry for the 23rd annual ProCon Awards is open and again free of charge, with a closing date of July 8. Finalists and winners will be celebrated at a ceremony on November 12 at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.

Tickets for the event sold out in under three minutes, guaranteeing a full house of 620 attendees. There are tables of ten tickets held back for businesses keen to sponsor one of the categories still available.

There are eight categories, covering residential and non-residential schemes of various sizes, regeneration projects and the third year of the Rising Star category for those making a trailblazing start to their property and construction careers.

The 2026 ProCon Awards are already backed by two corporate sponsors: Salus and Unique Window Systems. The Leicester Mercury’s Business Live is the media partner.

Stuart Power and Paul Meadows, directors at Salus (Building Control & Fire Safety Consultants), said: ““We are proud to continue our support as a corporate sponsor of this outstanding celebration of our industry.

“The continued success of the ProCon Awards is a significant achievement, particularly in a challenging climate of regulatory change and evolving compliance requirements.

“This year is especially meaningful for Salus as we celebrate our transition to an employee-owned company — a milestone that secures our long-term future and ensures we remain fully independent as Building Control Approvers and Building Regulation and Fire Safety Consultants serving Leicestershire.

“We look forward to joining colleagues from across the sector to recognise and celebrate excellence within our industry.”.”

Sunil Patel, joint-managing director at Unique Window Systems, said: “Unique is currently celebrating our 20th anniversary and a belief in maintaining the highest standards in everything we do has been instrumental in our continued success.

“Our appreciation of the very real difference a commitment to excellence can make means we are only too happy to advocate this quality in others and our ongoing sponsorship of the ProCon Leicestershire Awards reflects that.

“Good luck to all those entering this year and thank you for making our region such a beacon of best practice for the built environment sector across the wider UK.”

Details of the awards are at: procon-leicestershire.co.uk/procon-awards/2026

Companies still keen to attend the ceremony are welcome to join a reserve list. To do so, or to enquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Allyson Jeffrey on 0116 278 1443 or via email: info@procon-leicestershire.co.uk