Beard has won the Social Impact Award at the Constructing Excellence South West Awards 2026, recognising the lasting value created through its work at The Castle School in Newbury.
The award was presented at Aerospace Bristol on 16 July, during an event celebrating outstanding achievement and best practice across the region’s built environment.
Alongside constructing a new four-classroom teaching block to BREEAM Excellent standard, Beard delivered a tailored social impact programme designed around the needs of the school and its SEND learners.
Developed in collaboration with The Castle School and West Berkshire Council, the impact plan was aligned with the school’s World of Work priorities. The programme included a Build with Ambition workshop, 36 apprentice weeks and bespoke site hoarding showcasing the range of careers available across the construction industry.
The team presenting gave a fantastic sense of the relationship between the Contractor, Client and the building’s users, as well as the neighbouring properties with inclusivity given a real importance. Impressively social value impact did not end with the construction project, with liaison and support still ongoing.
The site management team & supply chain often made small accommodations which were simple touches with big impact. Their Build Ambition Workshop was particularly impressive. It is for all these reasons and for Geoffrey the Dulux Dog we are delighted to announce the winner of the Social Impact category is Beard Construction.
Constructing Excellence South West Awards 2026
Targeted donations also helped strengthen the school’s learning and performance spaces, while enterprise activities gave students the opportunity to design, decorate and sell products at Newbury Market. The experience supported learners to develop practical skills, creativity, confidence and greater awareness of the workplace.
Beard calculated that the project generated £1.95 million in additional social and local economic value, equivalent to 88% of the contract value. We also directed 8% of the contract spend to local micro and small businesses.
The £1.95 million of additional social and local economic value demonstrates the scale of the impact, but the individual experiences behind that figure are equally important. Helping young people build confidence, explore careers and develop skills they can carry into the future is a legacy of which we are extremely proud.
Jamie Harwood, Director & Safety Director Swindon
Collaboration across Beard’s supply chain was central to the programme’s success. Partners supported activities and shared their expertise with learners, helping the project create opportunities beyond the construction itself.
This award reflects what purposeful construction means to Beard: creating inclusive opportunities, strengthening local communities and delivering benefits that last long after the tools have been downed.
A huge thank you to The Castle School, West Berkshire Council, our supply chain partners, our social value team and everyone who helped to make this achievement possible.
