Beard to invest in training as profits surge by 41%

Mark Beard’s Beard Construction plans to invest heavily in training and developing its skilled workforce in 2017 in preparation for opportunities in the new post-Brexit market.  

This bullish attitude comes off the back of the Swindon-based contractor’s latest results which saw annual profits leap by 41%.  

Pretax profits reached £4m during the year to 31 December for the first time on turnover up 23% at £136m. The family-owned firm, which celebrates its 125th business anniversary this year, has a current order book of just over £112m. 

The firm, which specialises in projects in the education, healthcare, sports and leisure and commercial sectors up to £16m in value, opened an office in Bristol last year ago to broaden its reach further into the west. It also has bases in Oxford and Guildford.  

Major contract wins for the firm over the last year have included an £11m deal to refurbish a science building at Eton College, and a £7.2m project to build the Being Brunel museum in Bristol.  

Chairman Mark Beard said: “Beard’s strong construction performance in 2016 reflects our continued strategic focus on prompt and faultless delivery, being selective about our projects and work-winning environments which bring out the best in our teams.  

“Our high-quality construction capability and profitable long-term relationships with our clients and suppliers, have also helped generate high levels of repeat business which we have been able to secure on better terms than lowest cost competitive tendering.”  

Beard added: “Given the agility of the business, the strength of our order book, framework contracts and pipeline of contract opportunities, we’re well positioned to build on our success in 2017.”