|
Optimism at Beard on solid start to year - Oxford teams on site at seventeen projects across the region Oxford, 10 February 2010: Despite the predicted slow return to growth for the construction sector, including another gloomy study from the Construction Skills Network, local construction company Beard, based in Cumnor Hill, has reason to be optimistic about the start to the year. With an order book of over £15 million going into 2010 and £9 million of new orders secured in the last quarter alone, plus a positive trend in the number of new enquiries, construction director, John Youle, sees encouraging signs for the year ahead. “The snow and freezing weather did cause a slow start on some sites, but Beard is now on site at over 17 projects. Although conditions are still very difficult, the start to the year has been encouraging and the number of enquiries we are seeing is a further positive sign. The underlying strength and resilience of the business is, I believe, an important confidence factor for customers in coming to us.” Not unexpectedly there is a clear trend towards refurbishment projects, but the work won in the last quarter includes a good mixture of contracts: ongoing work for the Oxford University Estates Directorates under a long term relationship; three new local authority contracts primarily in education; two new projects for the Royal Air Force and a number of residential property contracts. Further afield the company is starting projects in the Guildford area and the Swindon based division of the business is also making a solid start to 2010. Recent contract wins include: Oxford University Estates Directorate: continuing projects including remodelling and internal improvements for the Church of St Mary the Virgin and a refurbishment project for the University Equality and Diversity Unit, Worcester Street, Oxford. Buckinghamshire County Council: John Colet School, Wendover, new Sixth Form extension and Drama Block. Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Ongoing projects including: new hall, toilets, kitchen and classrooms for Junior School in Windsor, and a new two storey sports facility for Cox Green Community Centre in Maidenhead. Interserve (Defence) Ltd: Projects to refurbish building 56, Harrier Block, RAF High Wycombe and alteration works to guardrooms at RAF Benson Residential Property: A number of private house contracts and in particular a design and build project for 23 flats in High Wycombe.
|
|||