How to Choose the Right Welfare Unit For Your Site

Blog-December 22, 2021

Welfare units and vans provide the backbone of a happy and healthy construction site. But with so many products on the market, it can be difficult to know which will best serve your particular site’s needs. 

In this article, we explore four key factors you should consider before choosing a welfare unit:

1. Cost

It would be nice if money were no object. But for most projects there is a limited budget – and that means you have to be strategic with how you spend. Mobile welfare units vary in price, and it’s important to make a cost-benefit analysis to ensure you don’t under-or-overspend.

There may, for example, be gains to be made from hiring a more expensive welfare unit that will more than cover the cost. There may also be hidden costs to cheaper models, if they do not include service or support.

It’s also worth considering whether you need a full welfare unit – would a welfare van serve you just as well? This may be a way of spending more efficiently without cutting back on quality, as well as increasing the flexibility of your worksite.

Questions to ask:

  • How much can you afford to spend on a welfare unit or van?
  • What do you expect to get for your money?
  • What is included in the price of the welfare unit or van?

2. Employee needs

Welfare units exist primarily to meet the needs of your employees. And given that every workforce has slightly differing needs, it’s important to consider what your specific team will benefit from – as well as the actual size of the team.

Some welfare units – such as our ECO10 Welfare Unit (for up to 10 people) – features far more space and provides better quality facilities than others. Determining whether your employees will benefit from better access to hot water or more comfortable seating is important before making a hiring decision.

Questions to ask:

  • How much space do you require?
  • What facilities do you require?
  • Will you benefit from improving employee wellbeing?

3. Technology

As sites are more heavily scrutinised for their sustainability, the quality of technology they use must improve. Many welfare units are built on inefficient technology, and therefore actively hinder efforts to make your site more sustainable.

More modern technology, however, can be an active benefit. Take our ECOXLI Unit: it makes use of next generation lithium cell batteries and solar technology, minimising the need for generator power. It also operates an intelligent auto system for full telemetry, so you can guarantee it only uses power when necessary.

Questions to ask:

  • What kind of power does your welfare unit or van run on?
  • How modern is the fleet you are hiring from?
  • What are your sustainability goals and will this welfare unit help meet them?

4. Support

Mobile welfare units require regular maintenance, and bringing in a third-party expert to administer this can be costly and time consuming. It’s vital therefore to consider what level of support the company you are hiring from provides.

At Welfare Hire, we pride ourselves on offering comprehensive 24/7 support, as well as scheduling regular maintenance and checkups. This ensures your mobile welfare units are always in great condition, and any issues are resolved as quickly as possible.

Questions to ask:

  • Is support included?
  • If so, how much support and of what quality?
  • What are the costs of disruptions if you do not have comprehensive support?