Quality Manager appointment cements Beard's commitment to faultless delivery

Our focus on managing quality across its portfolio of work is further bolstered by a senior appointment into a newly created role. Paul Wills has been appointed as Quality Manager, cementing our commitment to delivering high-quality and sustainable projects.

Working across all five of Beard’s offices – Swindon, Bristol, Oxford, Guildford and Southampton – Paul will ensure that all projects strive to meet the highest standards, as well as implementing continuous improvement processes to enhance construction practices and minimise defects.

My role focuses on being proactive in our approach to managing quality and mitigating defects, rather than reactively and retrospectively responding. I am responsible for bringing continuity across Beard’s approach to quality in every element of the build process. I want to support Beard colleagues and sub-contractors and work collaboratively on processes and procedures across the business, from site teams to commercial and finance, to our approach to training and recruitment.

Paul Wills, Quality Manager

An award-winning construction professional, Paul is a member of the Chartered Quality Institute. He has worked on-site, as well as in quality management roles for national construction firms, bringing a balance of practical experience and theoretical knowledge.

Quality has always been a cornerstone of our business, and Paul’s appointment marks a significant step in our commitment to continual improvement and demonstrates our focus on delivering outstanding projects. The construction industry has seen a cultural shift in its approach to quality in recent years, driven by new regulations and evolving client expectations. Having a dedicated specialist focusing on this, we are positioning ourselves to stay ahead of these changes – proactively identifying root causes of issues or defects, addressing gaps in design or process and ensuring the highest standards are maintained across every project.

Kirsty Lever, Head of Business Improvement

Paul’s appointment comes as Beard celebrates a record year of growth. Sixty-five new staff have joined the firm in 2024, growing the team to more than 350. 10% of these appointments are newly created roles like Paul’s, boosted by the opening of Beard’s Southampton office in January.

Beard has also made 16 internal promotions, demonstrating a drive for nurturing long-lasting careers and investing in their people.

This has been an exceptional year in terms of growth for Beard, with many new roles created demonstrating true company expansion. We’re committed to nurturing talent and investing in our team, running a leadership development programme designed to promote from within and offer employees rewarding careers. This year, 24 colleagues will complete the programme, which pairs peer-to-peer coaching with guidance from external mentors. We’ve got a real focus on supporting a diverse workforce too, including programmes specifically designed for female employees at key stages of their career, opportunities for new entrants to the industry, and coaching and mentoring support for all staff.

Melissa Barber, Head of People & Communications

30 September 2024

Quality Manager appointment cements Beard’s commitment to faultless delivery during a record year of company growth