GCH backs Thurston with new UK plant to lift specialist output 158%
What's the deal? GCH Corporation is funding a multi-million-pound Engineered Solutions manufacturing facility for ThurstonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → Group at Ottringham, East Yorkshire. The 1,250m² plant will lift Thurston's specialist output capability by 158% and create 55 jobs. GCH, a privately owned industrial group of 13 businesses, acquired the modular manufacturer out of administration in December 2025.
Why now? The facility follows GCH's rescue of Thurston, a deal that preserved more than 200 of its roughly 275 jobs. The acquisition marks a shift from stabilising the business to funding its growth. Groundworks began on October 1, 2026, with the plant expected to be operational in the first half of 2027.
What's the endgame? The site will build blast-resistant buildings, toxic refuges, equipment and control housings, battery and electrolyser enclosures, and bespoke containerised units. These serve the energy, hydrogen, oil and gas, data centre, utilities, rail, and defence sectors. GCH is targeting more than £40 million in annual output at Ottringham.
"Demand for this work is increasing rapidly, particularly across areas such as hydrogen, offshore energy and equipment housings," said Matt Goff, group managing director at Thurston.
The bigger play: Thurston, established in December 1970, posted about £47 million in turnover for the year to November 1, 2024. GCH chief executive officer Cassie Hutchings said the firm invested because it "saw a business with deep manufacturing experience and real potential to grow," adding its role is "to back that potential with long-term capital and support."
What could go wrong? Thurston is expanding against what Goff called "a challenging economic backdrop." Modular construction is drawing investment — Premier ModularDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → secured £360 million in refinancing in 2026 — but the sector has also seen failures, making reliable demand and factory utilisation critical.
The signal: The investment is a test of whether GCH can turn a distressed acquisition into sustainable growth in specialist, project-driven markets. By betting on domestic capacity for defence, energy, and data centre supply chains, it ties the bet to sectors the UK is prioritising for the long term.
Read more: northerngazette.com
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