Contractor of the year

Zed Pods is pioneering design-led, offsite volumetric modern methods of construction (MMC) housing solutions for the social housing sector. In partnership with Ashford Borough Council and Mid Devon District Council, Zed Pods delivered three award-winning zero-operational-carbon schemes in 2024 on difficult brownfield and flood-risk sites. Each project combines bespoke design and manufacturing efficiency, creating sustainable and spacious social rent homes.

 

Using renewables, low-carbon materials and robust design specifications, these homes outperform carbon targets. Internet of Things sensor data confirms a 74% fall in energy-use drop at one project, St Andrews, with combined 60-year carbon savings of 3,936 tonnes of CO2.

 

Beyond technical innovation, Zed Pods encourages workforce development and prioritises local SMEs, reducing transport emissions while upskilling local firms on MMC. The firm makes efforts to be inclusive, with 67% Black and minority ethnic employees and 27% female employees. A third of the workers at Zed Pods’ factory are day-release prisoners receiving NVQ training through the Prisoners Building Homes programme.

 

This firm’s turnover tripled last year, rising from £3.5m in 2023 to £10.6m in 2024, proving that in Zed Pods’ case at least, MMC can be profitable as well as impactful.

 

The judges said:

“This is a really ground-breaking organisation that’s leading on offsite volumetric MMC housing solutions for social housing. Carbon reduction is prioritised through low-carbon design, material choice and use of renewables”