Staff were left stunned this week after they returned from their Christmas break to be told they were being laid off.

One taking to social media to find a new job, said: “Well, not the start to the year I was hoping for, unfortunately made redundant this morning with Connect Modular going into administration.”

The bombshell came without warning for 60 staff at the East Ayrshire firm after the December in-house newsletter rallied staff for a final push in 2025 to finish four affordable housing projects, spanning 76 modular housing units across the Garnock Valley, Livingston, Penicuik and Clydebank.

Connect Modular was also gearing up to start work this year on Glasgow’s first operational net zero modular housing development for West of Scotland Housing Association.

Last summer Connect Modular completed its largest ever contract – a £17m award-winning 101 home project in Kilmarnock delivering the largest modular low-rise, affordable housing development in Scotland.

101 home development at Shortlees, Kilmarnock for Cunninghame Housing Association

The modular business traces its roots back to 2013, when its founder Jennifer Higgins, then aged 22, set up the Wee House Company based in Cunnock.

This started targeting self build but later began to branch out and took on Richard Reid from Portkabin in 2019 who became chief operating officer.

In 2020, Higgins set up Connect Modular to shift the business up a gear with a focus on commercial and local authority housing clients.

The firm is understood to have employed 60 staff.