The light gauge steel frame specialist, established in 1992, operates from a 45,000 sq ft facility at Broadway Business Park in Chadderton.

The new factory and MMC Centre was 50% larger than Mansell’s previous facility and significantly increased capacity to manufacture panelised light gauge steel frames for residential, care, student and education schemes across the North of England.

In its latest filed accounts, the business reported turnover of around £13m and employed more than 50 staff.

Managing director Angela Mansell is a leading industry exponent of modern methods of construction and has been a prominent advocate for changing the way projects are procured and designed to make offsite delivery work.

The firm specialises in voestalpine Metsec light gauge steel frames, drylining, partitions, suspended ceilings and render systems.

It also counted Laing O’Rourke, Wates, Morgan Sindall, ISG and Galliford Try among its main contractor supply chain partners and is a member of the Finishes and Interiors Sector trade body.

The notice of intention provides Mansell with temporary protection from creditor action while directors consider options for the business.

Earlier this year Mansell was appointed by Lovell Partnerships as specialist MMC contractor on a four-storey block of 27 affordable apartments in Croxteth, north Liverpool.

Mansell also recently secured work for Robertson in the North East on a large 124-apartment extra care development in South Shields, South Tyneside.

In a statement the company said: “Today is an incredibly difficult day for everyone at Mansell Building Solutions.

“Following a prolonged period of exceptionally challenging trading conditions across the UK construction sector, alongside significant cash-flow and working-capital pressures caused by delays to a number of existing and new projects, the board yesterday filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators.

“This is not a decision that has been taken lightly.

“Mansell has always been a people business. Our people, the way we work together and the relationships we have built with customers, suppliers, subcontractors and partners have always been at the heart of who we are.

“Our immediate priority today is our team, and making sure that everyone affected is treated with care, respect and as much clarity as we are able to provide.

“We also recognise that today’s news will create uncertainty for many people outside the business. We are communicating directly with those affected and working closely with our professional advisers to manage the position responsibly and understand what happens next.

“Mansell has also always been about challenging the norm.

‘From our Greater Manchester factory, we set out to do things differently and to help drive change in an industry that we believe needs to modernise. We invested in manufacturing, modern methods of construction and a different way of thinking about how buildings can be designed, made and delivered.

‘Trying to change established ways of working is never easy, and the pace of change across construction has not always matched the ambition behind what we were trying to achieve. But we remain enormously proud that Mansell was prepared to try, to challenge convention and to push for something better.

“Over the years, the Mansell team has worked incredibly hard to help our customers, support our communities and make a positive difference through the work we do. We are immensely proud of that contribution and of the people who made it possible.

“We know there will be questions, and we will share further information when we are in a position to do so.

“For now, our focus is simply on doing the right thing by our people and by everyone affected, and dealing with what comes next with the same care and integrity we have always tried to bring to Mansell.”