Swindon construction firm Beard’s strong track record in working with local authorities, particularly on school projects, has earned it a place on Hampshire County Council’s Intermediate Construction Framework.
The family-owned firm, which has defied the construction industry slowdown in recent years, could now be in line for major projects valued between £500,000 and £4m in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Reading. It already operates in an area stretching from Bristol – where it is now converting an out-dated office into a high-specification student accommodation – through Bath, Swindon and the Thames Valley to Surrey and Sussex. As well as Swindon, the firm has offices in Oxford and Guildford. 
Beard is one of 10 successful contractors on the four-year Hampshire framework, which could handle work worth around £400m. Most projects are expected to be between £1.5m and £3m and consist mainly of extensions, refurbishments and alterations to existing schools – an area of expertise for Beard.
Beard Guildford office director Guy Hannell said: “Our success in gaining a place on this important framework recognises Beard’s strong track record of collaborative working with our local authority partners and our significant experience in designing, building and refurbishing schools in the region.
“We are looking forward to using this expertise on this framework and working with Hampshire County Council and its framework partners where we aim to build on our reputation for adding value and prompt and faultless project delivery.”
The framework, which will also be offered to other local authorities, is due to start this August.
It aims to improve the predictability of project out-turn cost, programme and quality by the early collaborative involvement of the contractors in the project design and project management.
It is also available for use by fire, police and NHS authorities. Beard will be appointed to individual projects or programmes by mini-competition.
Beard is currently on seven construction frameworks in the South of England including a multi-million pound framework with West Sussex County Council where it is building a three-storey teaching complex in Worthing. It also works closely with Surrey County Council on a nine-classroom teaching block at Ashford, near Egham.
Hampshire County Counciil has previously developed and run a range of regional construction frameworks since 2005 for itself and other authorities across the South East which have handled projects worth more than £2.5bn of 100-plus authorities and other public sector organisations.
