NOVA MONTHLY: JANUARY

THE LONGEST MONTH EVER... IS OVER.

JANUARY AT A GLANCE

• Getting back into the swing of things after the break, with projects carrying over and new conversations starting

• On site in Wales, testing installations and refining products for easier assembly

• Early signs of growth-focused thinking across the industry, despite ongoing BSR delays

• Spotting opportunities in smarter digital assets and better retrofit solutions

• Strengthening the NOVA team and laying the groundwork for a bigger year ahead

INTRODUCTION - A QUICK THOUGHT TO KICK THINGS OFF

January always feels like a slow restart for the industry, but at NOVA, we were ready to hit the ground running.

The Christmas break already feels like a distant memory, but it was a welcome chance to properly switch off. I spent time in the Lake District with family, getting out for plenty of walks and doing a lot of thinking about what’s next for NOVA.

The conclusion? It’s very much a go-big-or-go-home mindset for the year ahead.

Now that things are back in motion, we’re looking forward to another year of working closely with our clients and helping turn ambitious ideas into practical, buildable products.

MONTHLY OVERVIEW - WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THIS MONTH

January has been a solid start to the year. A couple of projects rolled over from 2025, which helped maintain momentum during what can often be a slower month.

We spent time on site in Wales with 5C Consulting Ltd, installing and testing several finalised concepts. This hands-on testing highlighted small changes that simplify assembly for site teams. The project is now finalised and ready for handover.

We’ve also held several new lead meetings with potential clients. A recurring theme has been a strong mindset for growth in 2026, an encouraging feeling despite wider industry challenges.

At the same time, we’ve seen a couple of projects pushed back due to tighter spending at the start of the year, often linked to delays coming through the BSR process. It’s a clear sign that the industry is going through significant change, with knock-on effects across every stage of delivery.

Finally, we’ve begun in-depth scoping discussions with a client in Manchester, working closely to understand their goals and how NOVA can support bringing a new idea to life. We’re expecting to hear back in mid-February on how they’d like to move forward.

We have also received our order of NOVA notepads and a lot of them....

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INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES - WHERE INNOVATION IS HIDING RIGHT NOW

Smarter digital assets

Digital assets are no longer a “nice to have”. They’re essential for specification, drawing coordination, and automation. BIM models need to be smarter, giving architects and designers the right information from day one. This is an area we’re seeing rapid change and growing expectation across the industry. An area we are actively pushing and focusing on for clients.

Rethinking retrofit solutions

With the government’s new Warm Homes Plan launching this month, attention has returned to retrofit. With the previous scheme exposing a major issue with poor installation, as 98% of external wall systems and 29% of internal walls failed. There’s a real opportunity to rethink existing solutions, simplifying installation while maintaining performance and compliance.

DESIGN HACK - START AT THE END

When developing a product, the most valuable place to start isn’t the concept sketch or a prototype model. It’s the end user.

Before locking in design decisions, take time to understand who will install, handle, and maintain the product. Ask simple but often overlooked questions:

• Who is actually touching this on site?

• In what conditions will it be installed?

• What tools are realistically available?

• What happens when something goes wrong or needs adjusting?

Too many products fail not because they don’t perform, but because they’re difficult to install, easy to misuse, or slow teams down.

A useful exercise is to map the full product journey, something we do at NOVA on every project it helps to understand each stage and identify friction, opportunity, and untapped markets:

Designing with these challenges in mind often leads to:

• Fewer components

• Clearer installation sequences

• Reduced install time

• Lower risk of errors

Starting at the end doesn’t limit creativity, it focuses it.

NOVA UPDATES - WHAT'S CHANGING AT NOVA

We’ve brought Phil Stauton on board to support NOVA’s growth over the next five years. Phil scaled D2M over a 15-year period and has recently stepped back from the MD role into an advisory position. His experience and approach align closely with where we’re heading, making this a natural fit.

We’ve also expanded our internal team, strengthening our digital development capability. Two new team members have joined to work with clients on product automation and BIM product models.

Finally, following our annual business review, it became clear that our website no longer reflects what we do or how we work. Feedback highlighted that it feels overly technical and doesn’t clearly communicate our value. As a result, we’ve brought Reece on board to help develop a new website that better represents NOVA and the people behind it.

Even if it’s just an early idea or a challenge you’re wrestling with, feel free to connect with us on LinkedIn or get in touch to continue the conversation. We’re always happy to talk things through.