• Swindon & Wiltshire Social
• Monday May 19 2025

Beard Construction delivers £8.5 million in social and economic value – report

Beard Construction delivered £8.5 million in social and economic value in 2024, according to its first social impact report.

Eleven construction projects completed by the Swindon-headquartered firm in 2024 delivered £8.5 million in social and economic value, averaging 24 percent of contract value, according to the report.

In addition, 33 live projects contributed nearly £200,000 while Beard’s central teams, including finance, IT, HR and communications roles, unlocked a further £16,700 in community impact.

The company began recording its community impact in January 2024, promoting Paula Baleson to social value manager and developing a tailored framework.

Four regional coordinators have been promoted throughout the year from within the company and earlier this month environmental studies graduate Hannah Phillips was appointed as Swindon’s social value coordinator, completing the social value team with a dedicated person in each region.

Beard also raised £100,000 for charities and good causes in 2024, including match funding from the Beard Charitable Foundation, putting the firm well on track to meet its charitable goals.

“Beard has always been a company with a social conscience but 2024 marked the first year that we formalised and began measuring our efforts. Since establishing our social value team and introducing our tailored framework, colleagues across our regions have really stepped up,” said Paula.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved and, with many exciting initiatives being planned, we are looking forward to building on our commitment to communities even further.”

Recently the firm planted 130 trees at the 194-acre Wrington Warren near Bristol, marking the completion of the first phase of a long-term woodland management plan, during which 12,000 new trees were planted.

Purchased in 2022, Beard invested in the woodland to help reduce its environmental footprint through carbon sequestration, as trees store twice as much carbon as they emit.

Neil Sherreard, deputy chairman at Beard, said: “Beard’s investment in UK forestry demonstrates our commitment to reducing our environmental impact over the long-term.

“Beyond the carbon capture, we recognise the wellbeing benefits of being in nature and bringing regional teams together outside of normal working environments.