More than 300 colleagues came together in Newbury earlier this week for Beard’s largest all-company event to date, bringing teams together to reflect on the year just gone and look ahead to the ambitions for 2026.
Hosted at Newbury Racecourse, colleagues from Swindon, Bristol, Oxford, Guildford and Southampton heard company updates, discussed shared goals, and had the opportunity to connect with peers from across the regions.
Directors shared highlights from 2025 and set out priorities for the year ahead, with a strong focus on collaboration, quality and continuous improvement.
Mark Beard, company chairman, welcomed the room, saying: “Construction is a resilient industry and Beard is a resilient company. We’ve got a good pipeline, we’re in a sound financial position, but most importantly we have truly committed people who make it all happen.
“What our focus needs to be on this year, and beyond, is making the small incremental changes that add up to greater progress, and making things simple and straightforward as possible for colleagues, suppliers and our customers.
Mark Beard, Chairman
The event also saw the much-anticipated announcement of our 2025 Prompt and Faultless Delivery winner. Many congratulations to Issa Alani who won for his leadership at University of Winchester, Rose Library project. The works consisted of the design and refurbishment of the existing library in two distinct sections, with complex logistics.
The customer commented this was an exceptionally successful project, saying “I have rarely worked with such a professional and open contracting team. This must be in large part to Issa’s team management.”
Issa is currently working on Stonehenge Learning Centre, with Richard Dewdney, head of operations for Stonehenge, working for our customer English Heritage, saying: “I can’t say enough about how collaborative they’ve been. It has felt like they’re part of the site team.” You can learn more about the project here.
The Prompt and Faultless Delivery Awards celebrate colleagues who best demonstrate Beard’s commitment to consistently high standards. Congratulations also go to this year’s finalists:
- Matt Bowler, Project Manager in Oxford, for his work at Oriel College in Oxford.
- Charlie Carter, Site Manager in Swindon, for his work at Maggie’s Centre in Cheltenham.
- Steve Moss, Project Manager in Swindon, for his work at Trowbridge Town Hall.
- David Diffey, Project Manager in Guildford, for his work at Hoe Valley School, Woking.
The first all-company event in six years, colleagues were also invited to share their feedback on benefits, rewards and what more Beard can do to remain a great place to work. The day included team challenges and a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?-style quiz, which brought out plenty of competitive spirit.
Mike Hedges, Company Operations Director
Thank you to everyone who brought such energy and enthusiasm to the day, and particular thanks to those involved in organising an engaging and enjoyable event.
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