The Invest Plymouth Team recently sat down with Tom Humphries, Area Hire Manager and Stacey Graham, Hire Coordinator to find out more about Plymouth Portakabin.
The Portakabin Visitor Centre in Plymouth, located at Block Plymouth, Melville, Royal William Yard, is a key hub for modular building solutions. Renowned for their innovative designs and efficient construction, Portakabin offers a wide array of modular and portable building services. From temporary site accommodations to fully equipped, multi-story facilities for sectors such as education, healthcare, and office spaces, they pride themselves on delivering projects up to 70% faster than traditional methods—all while maintaining their "on time, on budget" promise.
What is the name of the company and how long have you been in Plymouth?
Portakabin Ltd with a presence in Plymouth for over 20 years
What is the sector that you specialise in?
Portable cabins and modular buildings for sale or hire working in all sectors.
In 20 words, how would you describe the business?
Design, manufacture, install re-locatable portable cabins / modular building systems along with all associated fit-out and activities including enabling works.
Do you supply to Plymouth/SW/UK-wide/overseas?
Portakabin Ltd operate throughout the UK and northern Europe. Locally we have a sales team based in Plymouth that operate within Devon and Cornwall.
What would you say was your best-selling product?
Everyone has an individual requirement where one of our products would be suitable. Our Ultima buildings can provide unlimited amounts of space to permanent standards over multiple floors. Our Titan product is unique as it is wider and longer than others... subject to the lanes/access to site! Pacemaker and Solus buildings are more accessible to most site locations.
What would you say is the best thing about doing business in Plymouth?
Being part of seeing how Plymouth is growing with local companies working together / the actual projects / future plans / knowing that local companies are expanding. The amount of inward investment means the future looks very exciting!
And what of the future … where do you see Portakabin in 10 years time?
From a local point of view… Our company started in 1961 – same year as the Tamar Bridge – we understand the importance of a local presence and plan to keep celebrating being in Plymouth alongside them for years to come! From a business perspective, the group have plans to double the size in the next 5 years let alone 10!
And how about yourself … how long have you worked at Portakabin and what is your role?
Tom Humphries, started in November 2024 as area hire manager, eager to go out and meet past, present and future customers.
Stacey Graham (previously Bunney) I started working for Portakabin in 2002 as a hire co-ordinator, still doing the same role today, loving the variety of projects and speaking to many local people over the years!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Stacey likes pool (less seriously now since retiring from England), spending time with family and socialising with friends.
Tom likes to be active by either going to the gym or playing sports like ice hockey, golf, tennis and football. Also like to spend time relaxing with the family and going out with friends.
If you could have a business lunch with anyone who could significantly influence you/the business, who would that be and why?
That’s a really hard question as there isn’t just one – we are here to support anyone and any sector.
Maybe being able to offer our CPD seminar to all local contractors/architects/members of building Plymouth or Plymouth Manufacturing group
Devonport Royal Dockyard, someone who knows what’s happening with the infrastructural planning all over site so we can offer a long term solution to help them with future planning.