To support our plans to expand our market footprint in 2024, we are pleased to announce two promotions within our leadership team.
Director Mike Hedges has been promoted to the newly created position of company operations director, recognising his increasing impact and influence across the entire business. In his new role, Mike will oversee all of our offices including Beard's headquarters in Swindon, and our Bristol, Oxford and Guildford regions. He will also oversee a new south coast office which is set to open in early 2024.
Mike joined Beard in 2015 as construction director to head up the new Bristol office. Following success in Bristol, Mike’s role quickly expanded to support the growth and development of our other regional offices, working closely with chairman Mark Beard and other directors.
Mike has nearly three decades of experience in the construction sector, having previously worked for Wates Construction for close to 20 years.
It is a great opportunity to work closely with our talented people and fantastic supply partners, while ensuring that our principles of excellent relationships and prompt and faultless delivery are maintained
MIKE HEDGES
Director
Jamie Harwood, Beard’s director for the successful Swindon region, has taken additional responsibility as safety director. This new role will build on Beard’s exemplary health and safety record with Jamie now spearheading the entire company safety strategy. He will also continue in his role as Swindon director.
Jamie joined Beard in 2019 and was promoted to the role of Swindon director in 2021. His 25-year construction career began at Bristol-based Cowlin Construction, before joining Midas in 2013. As Swindon director, Jamie is responsible for the nearly 100-stong office and a series of construction projects which range from small maintenance jobs to complex, multi-million-pound developments.
JAMIE HARWOOD
Director
Both promotions come into effect from January.
The news follows another busy year for Beard, with a number of high-profile project starts and completions. Most recently, we have completed the £38m transformation of Rhodes House in Oxford, while work has started at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, as well as at the Grade II listed Trowbridge Town Hall in Wiltshire and at the Spectrum Building in Swindon.
In the year, we have also achieved prestigious Investors In People (IIP) gold accreditation, successfully retaining the internationally recognised three-year accreditation for a fourth successive time. This follows our IIP gold award for staff health and wellbeing, in recognition of our inclusive policies and people first approach. Investors in People has accredited Beard since 2003.
