Leap of faith as construction firm transforms old pubs into mosques

Growing numbers of disused pubs are being turned into mosques, as Yorkshire's Muslim community seeks new places of worship.

This trend has proved beneficial for EB Solutions, a Bradford-based construction firm which has found a lucrative niche in mosque building projects.

The company, which specialises in structural steelwork, hopes to build dozens of mosques around Yorkshire and the North-West over the next few years.

Diversifying into this sector has helped the company to grow during the worst slump in decades.

Dave Bithel, the managing director of EB Solutions, said: "Altogether we could be carrying out work on 53 mosques across West Yorkshire. A lot of these have started out in terraced houses and are now expanding.

"A lot of mosques are moving into old pubs. Pubs are going left, right and centre."

Mr Bithel said the decline of the British pub was due to a number of factors, including the growing numbers of people who were buying beer from supermarkets.

He added: "I also feel that the social aspect of going to the pub has gone."

Mr Bithel said he first considered diversifying when he spotted a large mosque being built in his home town of Oldham.

He added: "I noticed the steelworks going up and decided to take a look. One of my sales team wrote to the local mosques directly and, for the first time, we became involved in building mosques."

EB Solutions is carrying out work on behalf of the Committee of Al Hira Islami Markaz, in Marsh Street, Bradford, which is linked to a further 53 mosques in West Yorkshire.

Mr Bithel added: "It was a leap of faith from their point of view. All the mosques are community funded.

"We are working on the first phase of the mosque at Marshfields in Bradford. There are seven other mosques at various stages of discussions with committees. This initial work is worth around 1.7m.

"We've also got the nod for 8m of contracts and that

work could go on for five years." Mr Bithel said that, ideally, he would like to have four or five schemes running at the same time.

He added: "Some of them are new build. The larger projects will provide jobs for up to 100 people at a time and can be done in three to five-month tranches."

The company, which also provides laminated timber kiosks, employs 28 staff and has 3m turnover.

In May last year, EB Solutions bought Savekers out of administration. Birmingham-based Savekers dates from 1905 and manufactures shop fittings and shelving.

Mr Bithel said Savekers was doing well under EB Solutions' ownership, and the firm is hoping to grow by working with major retailers and hotel chains. "Business has been very tough over the last 12 to 18 months,'' said Mr Bithel. "There has been a 40 per cent downturn in traditional work."

He was cautious about the outlook for 2010, adding: "At the moment there are lots of quotes for tenders, but people will not put pen to

paper until it's absolutely necessary."

Simon Young, the director of Leeds-based Montpelier Chartered Accountants, who has advised EB Solutions, said building firms that were prepared to make investments were still expanding.

He added: "When religious organisations order something, they are doing it because they've got the cash and have the community behind them."

Community cash supports projects

Work to build mosques is usually carried out through a series of small contracts, because the cash to support the projects is collected from the local community.

Dave Bithell, the managing director of EB Solutions, which is building a number of mosques in West Yorkshire, described them as "leaps of faith". EB Solutions, based in Bradford, specialises in providing structural steelwork. It also carries out refurbishment work and provides infrastructure for telecommunications companies.

The company works on contracts which range in size from 1,000 to 1m. It can provide covers for antennae and air conditioning units to ensure they blend in with their surroundings.

The company's website is www.ebsolutionsltd.com