A WORCESTER firm which makes prefabricated buildings hopes to double its business after setting up a new production line.

Adroit Modular Buildings, part of the Adroit Group of construction companies, has been manufacturing modular buildings in the city for more than 30 years.

But until now, its workforce of 44 has made the buildings one at a time. Now, thanks to a £25,000 grant from Advantage West Midlands, all that will change.

"It will mean a huge increase in productivity, possibly even doubling it," said Julius Marstrand, managing director of Adroit, which currently has an annual turnover of £3m.

"It will also mean a massive improvement to health and safety as we won't have wires hanging all over the place and bits and pieces on the floor.

"Individual sections of the modules will be built in their own places and then assembled as they go down the production line."

Adroit supplies a variety of buildings to a number of professions - it will supply some polling booths for the Thursday, May 5 General Election, and is in the process of building a medical centre.

Each building is made up of individual modules, which have been used in the past to build a three-storey hotel.

"Module buildings, or pre-fabs, as they are often known, have no limits now," added Mr Marstrand.

"We can put as many modules as possible together to make buildings as big as people like.

"And the buildings are increasingly being bought for permanent use and not just for hire."

The Diversification Grant from Advantage West Midlands, which was arranged through Herefordshire & Worcestershire Business Link, will also assist with market research, business restructuring, and management training.

The opening of the new line, on Tuesday, April 12, will be carried out by John Peters, a former Tornado pilot who was shot down during the first Gulf War and paraded on Iraqi TV. He is now a leadership consultant.

The Mayor of Worcester, councillor Allah Ditta, will also be present.