Advanté, the UK-based manufacturer of the Oasis ‘instant start’ self-contained welfare units, is celebrating 25 years of its flagship product.
The company pioneered the design and production of its Oasis welfare units for main contractors after health and safety requirements, introduced in 1998, meant that all construction sites had to provide hot and cold running water before work could start. The Oasis units provide a complete solution before services are installed on site.
Stan Chapman, who was then Managing Director and is now R&D Director, designed and developed the concept for the Oasis welfare units, which became an instant hit with housebuilders. Not only did the original unit feature hot and cold water, but incorporated a canteen, drying room and optional WC facilities that were unheard of at the time.
Stan Chapman, R&D Director at Advanté, said: “Twenty five years ago, a customer came to me with an issue that they couldn’t get started on site for three months as the services weren’t going to be ready. We designed and developed a range of stand-alone welfare units that offered ‘above and beyond’ facilities and were available for long or short-term hire, with servicing provided.”
Stan adds: “The design of our Oasis welfare units has evolved tremendously since those early days, as we have worked alongside clients to develop bespoke solutions to meet ever increasing site welfare challenges. We are unique in the market, not just for starting a whole new industry with ‘instant start’ but also that we have continued to research, design and build our own bespoke units.
He explains: “Demand for lower power units, which don’t use diesel generators and that take advantage of renewable energy, has led to designs which have a much lower carbon footprint, helping our clients work towards zero carbon. We’re proud of the part we’ve played in developing a solution to an industry problem, with our units renowned for increasing productivity and efficiency on site, whilst enhancing staff wellbeing.”
Advanté now supplies hybrid (Solar LPG) powered welfare and office units to some of the UK’s most prominent construction and housebuilding firms, including many of the Tier 1 contractors. Many of their original early adopter clients remain as clients of the business. The Oasis Welfare range continues to be renowned for its innovative, high quality market-leading features.
Every Oasis welfare unit comes with high quality office and/or canteen facilities, a 24/7 drying room (silent overnight) and 1 or 2 toilets. Shower options are also available. For sites that require additional office space, there is the option of a two-storey unit, with Advanté’s EcoMax product, which provides comfortable meeting rooms and office space located on the first floor.
All Advanté units are available with servicing agreements, as part of flexible hire packages, leaving site managers and staff free to concentrate on important site matters.
Mandy Messenger, who has been with the business for 32 years, became Advanté’s Managing Director three years ago and now leads a team of 65 people. Mandy said: “Advanté invented the concept of an ‘instant start’ welfare unit and has been pioneering static, self-contained welfare units ever since. Innovation and sustainability have always been at the heart of everything we do.”
Mandy adds: “We’re always striving to do better and to achieve more. Our mission is to remain at the forefront of the instant start welfare market, continuing to innovate to create sustainable solutions for the construction industry. We also support our customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals in today’s ever-changing environment.”
There are seven different ranges of Oasis units: EcoLogic Solar, EcoLogic, EcoMaxSolar, EcoMax, WashStation, PowerStation and Vision, offering a range of instant start facilities, layouts and sizes to suit every site’s requirements. Every Oasis unit is also fitted with intelligent telemetry, ensuring optimal efficiency and enabling remote servicing options.
The Oasis Welfare Units are award winning, including being double Green Apple Award winners in 2022 with the EcoLogic Solar unit with awards for Environmental Improvement and for Sustainable Development. In 2019, Advante won the Innovation Award at the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards for the Oasis PowerStation – a cable-free project with Willmott Dixon & Milwaukee Tool.
Twenty-five years down the line, Oasis welfare units are still undergoing continued innovation. This Spring will see two major advances to the range, that will further enhance their appeal to contractors.
