Our family ethos, and our long standing commitment to the communities we work in, is something that never falters.
Our teams go above and beyond to deliver much more local value than the buildings we construct. A great many acts of kindness start within our site boundaries.
In addition, each year our local offices support a chosen Charity of the Year, through ongoing initiatives that uplift communities, improve lives and engage our people in meaningful activities for themselves and others.
Engaging with local charities & communities not only positively impacts those in need but also fosters a sense of pride and unity, creating a shared purpose beyond the workplace.
Swindon
Swindon is taking on challenges throughout 2024 to help people or families going through particularly difficult periods in their lives.
Swindon Hardship Fund makes small cash grants, through trusted, local partner organisations, that are engaged in supporting people struggling to meet the basic needs of living. Run entirely by volunteers the Fund keeps overheads to an absolute minimum to ensure as much support as possible is given to individuals experiencing severe financial hardship in Swindon.
Activities to support the charity have included quizzes, flower sales, a golf day, Bristol Half Marathon, Cheltenham Half Marathon and more!
In addition, the team continues to support Youth Adventures Trust for a third consecutive year - raising £4,300 through the Three Peaks Challenge Half Marathon and 10k, and a further £1,200 through the Tough Mudder Challenge.
Guildford
Shooting Star is Guildford's chosen charity.
Shooting Star is a
local charity that helps and supports babies, children and young people with
life-limiting conditions and their families, through respite care, specialist nursing,
and complementary events.
The team have supported the charity by collecting items, volunteering time at their donation centre and fundraising.
As an extension of a masterclass held at Guildford Technology College, and with the support of our supply chain partner IN2 conversions, three work experience students had the opportunity to build a lean-too for the Shooting Star shop.
While creating much needed storage space for the charity shop, this also gave the students the opportunity to take their classroom learnings into the real world, installing everything from stud work, roof joist and shiplap cladding to installing a door, lining and roof.
Southampton
Colleagues in our new Southampton office have chosen to support Rowan's House Hospice.
Rowan's House offers free care and support for adults with life-limiting illness. This is provided at their hospice facility but also at home, so that people can receive hospice level care in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by family.
The team set themselves the challenge of walking, running or cycling the distance from the Beard office to Carlisle (500kms) in just one week! People from sites and offices came together -
walking from our project at the Hilsea Lido to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth (and back), around Stanstead House forest, and around the village of Denmead.
They achieved their 500km by Thursday (well done all!) and exceeded their target by over 75kms - raising a total of £1,246.00 which was presented to the charity at the end of the week.
Oxford
Continuing their long standing relationship with Sobell House Hospice, the Oxford team has had loads of fun getting involved in OxTRAIL.
From building the concrete bases at one of our sites and sponsoring our very own Ox (Eve) to enjoying the trail and helping to moooove the herd back for auction, we are delighted to now have welcomed Eve to her forever-home in our Oxford office.
In true style, our trusted regional supply chain partners have been an integral part and we thank them for their involvement and generosity!
We are also raising funds for Oxford University Charity.
The Oxford University Sport and Community Partnership have ambitious plans to open University sports facilities to those that would not ordinarily have access. Hoping to help local children, especially from under privileged areas, to make the right lifestyle choices in their formative years, plans includes opening up facilities that are owned by the Colleges.
Our Oxford team held a table tennis tournament and darts competition with supply chain partners in the summer and are planning a Cyclathon in the autumn.
Bristol
Our Bristol colleagues have chosen to support the wonderful charity Grief Encounter.
Grief Encounter helps bereaved children, young people and their families find hope and healing after the death of someone close.
Colleagues took a leading role in a garden makeover at the charity's premises, including a stunning mural painted by a local artist. They are also raising funds to support Grief Encounter - through a golf day, a bike ride from Bristol to the Cotswolds and back, and office dress down days.
