Angela Mansell, Managing Director at Mansell Building Solutions, shares with David Crowson, Editor, her 24-year journey with Mansell Building Solutions, championing the business, the construction industry, social value, and wellbeing.
When speaking to Angela, what was clear from the outset was her passion, leadership, and strong sense of purpose. Her drive goes beyond making Mansell Building Solutions one of the UK’s most experienced specialist contractors in off-site construction — it is about benefiting the wider industry, supporting her staff, and championing social value, sustainability, and collaboration.
From 2001: An amazing journey
Reflecting on her journey, Angela told me that after 17 years as operations director at Mansell Building Solutions, she and her sister Stephanie took over the second-generation family business from their father in 2018. She said: “It’s been an amazing journey so far. I’ve been the managing director since 2019 and since then I’ve been working hard to take Mansell into a positive future.”
Under her leadership, the business has grown into one of the UK’s most experienced specialist contractors in off-site construction. Angela added: “We have a 45,000 sq ft manufacturing facility producing around 100,000 m² of structural panels every year.
“As you can tell, I’m very passionate about championing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and I’m proud of Mansell’s role in advancing off-site framing and modular building solutions in the UK. MMC and off-site brings many benefits, including better quality control through factory conditions, less time on site, and less reliance on increasingly rare trades like Bricklaying. The biggest benefit, is that when done properly, our off-site, MMC-led approach offers peace of mind to clients because they get certainty in the finished product. “In 2023, our commitment to innovation secured a coveted spot on the £2 billion off-site Homes Alliance framework, placing us amongst the nation’s leading modular construction providers.”
Angela clearly understands the importance of a forward-thinking approach when it comes to a business’s environmental impact. She said: “We’re not just improving our own carbon footprint; we’re helping to set an example for the wider industry. Reducing carbon emissions is an important part of our industry’s future. Through innovation, hard work and our embracing of MMC, we’ve been able to stand tall and lead the way on building better, more energy efficient homes.”
During our conversation, we discussed social value, and Angela shared her guiding philosophy: ‘delivering homes for local people, by local people’ in Greater Manchester. To achieve this, the business prioritises employing and upskilling local talent and uses local supply chains to provide affordable housing solutions that leave a lasting legacy. Angela also explained her commitment to giving back. In the past year alone, she has helped raise over £10,000 for charity and through Mansell, she continues to invest in community programmes, reinforcing the role of construction as a force for social good. Angela’s leadership and the impact she has made on the business have earned industry recognition. Mansell was honoured as “Employer of the Year” at the 2023 City of Manchester Business Awards. She said: “This was a proud moment and a reflection of the positive, people-centred culture we have cultivated at the business.” Angela has also received personal accolades, including being awarded the prestigious status of Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (FCIOB) in 2023. The FCIOB review panel commended her as a “passionate, knowledgeable, and influential leader,” affirming the respect she commands across the construction industry.
More recently, in 2025, Mansell has been shortlisted for multiple honours, including Supply Chain Partner at the Northern Housing Awards, the Innovation & Collaboration Award at the North West Regional Housing Awards, and Construction Business of the Year at the City of Manchester Business Awards. During her tenure as managing director of
Mansell and North West Regional Chair for FIS, Angela has become a prominent voice driving positive change across the industry. She relishes speaking to audiences on construction innovation and collaboration, and sharing her knowledge and experience on national platforms including at UKREiiF, MIPIM and the annual Housing Conference.
The future is collaborative construction
When discussing her thoughts and solutions to the challenges currently facing the industry, Angela said: “Collaborative construction will go a long way in helping us overcome many of the challenges the industry is facing and that’s why I’m such a vocal proponent of it. At Mansell, we look to engage with the wider construction team at a project’s earliest stages. This always leads
to better, more cost-effective outcomes and builds certainty for our clients.” She recalled several recent thought provoking roundtable events she hosted, which resulted in strong commitments from attendees to a call for change. This included sessions at UKREiiF and MIPIM, where Angela facilitated honest, insightful, and engaging conversations about the real-world challenges of construction delivery. She said: ”A big topic in the last year has been centred on the new housing targets and what the industry can do to get back to building 300k homes a year. Collaboration featured heavily in those conversations, with a more joined up approach between local authorities, developers and the supply chain seemingly vital to a change in approach.
“This call for a new way of doing things has been embraced by round table participants. As always, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and from Mansell’s experience, the earlier they’re brought into a project, the better the end result is and the more certainty they’re able to deliver to their clients. With true collaboration, it’s not just the quality that increases, it’s the volume.” Wellbeing: Mental health and neurodiversity Angela explained that this subject is something personal for me. I’m neurodivergent—and a parent to children sitting their GCSEs and A Levels who are also neurodivergent. She said: “It is something that shapes how I lead, how I parent, and how I show up in the world. “I talk openly about this because it matters. Neurodivergent people face challenges that are still misunderstood or ignored — especially in high-pressure industries like construction. It’s not just about awareness; it’s about action. That means better support, more flexibility, and spaces where people don’t have to mask or justify how they work best.
“For those who don’t know, ‘neurodivergent’ simply means our brains work differently — whether that’s ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia or something else. It’s not a deficit. It’s just difference. And with the right environment, that difference can be a huge strength. “I use my platform to share the reality — on social media, on panels, at events — because too often the story is told about us, not by us. My message is simple: inclusion isn’t a box-tick; it’s a shift in mindset. And when we build workplaces that include different ways of thinking, everyone benefits. “There is a huge link in our industry between poor mental health and undiagnosed, unseen neurodiversity. We must wake up and understand what’s really going on. We need to focus on brain health (the cause) and mental health which are very often just the symptoms. I see my role as being part of that awareness shift and part of the change.”
Angela’s story is one of legacy and transformation: Taking the torch from her father and carrying it forward to light new paths in the industry. Angela is not just leading a business; she is leading by
example, inspiring change.
