Construction firm invests in next-gen leadership
Beard, which has a Southampton office, launched its initiative, Skills to Build, to enhance workforce development.
The move comes as the construction industry faces increasingly complex projects and regulatory challenges, raising the bar for team skills and technical expertise.
The initiative aims to equip Beard's 350 employees in Southampton, Swindon, Bristol, Guildford, and Oxford with the skills to meet these demands confidently.
EmpowerHer team supports women's growth at Beard Construction (Image: Beard Construction) The programme is built around three pillars: a virtual technical team, sector specialists, and external partners.
Mike Hedges, the company's operations director, said: "We have a wealth of knowledge within our team and we are excited to have now developed a more structured approach to sharing skills and expertise, ensuring projects are delivered faultlessly for our customers.
"The elements of Skills to Build create a support system that enhances project delivery, develops a resilient workforce, fosters collaborative working relationships, and builds long-term technical resilience across the company."
Beard's focus on training saw more than 600 days of formal training delivered to employees over the past year.
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This included 11 workers completing the firm's Leadership Development Programme, equipping them with the skills to hold senior positions in the near future.
The success of this initiative has led to the creation of a 'Next Gen' edition of the training, aimed at helping young professionals develop leadership and management skills early in their careers.
Melissa Barber, head of people and communications at Beard, said: "We're proud to invest in our people.
"It ensures that we continue to grow and succeed together – our team are central to our success."
A key part of her work was the creation of EmpowerHer, a bespoke initiative tailored for women in the construction industry.
This aims to equip women with a growth mindset, teaching them how to communicate with clarity and confidence, give and receive feedback effectively, and develop resilience.
Melissa added: "EmpowerHer is designed to address this, creating a safe space for our women to develop, challenge themselves, and build confidence."
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