Beard reveals a 50% annual growth spurt

Beard, the Swindon-based construction group, has enjoyed a 50% surge in annual turnover to £33m in 2005. The figure is expected to rise still further as Beard’s turnover in the final quarter ran to a record £10m.

Latest financial results (covering the 12 months to 31 December 2005) show a five-fold rise in pre-tax profit to £800,000. Turnover in the previous year was £22m.

Beard closed the year with orders worth £24m, the highest ever. It is enjoying a regular flow of work from two significant framework agreements: Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council.

Beard previously traded as EW Beard, but after a nine-month rebranding exercise decided to shave off parts of its earlier name.

Beard has also been working on its supply chain management and, as a result, 12 of its closest suppliers have signed up to an alliance charter. By the end of 2006, it is hoped that the list will have increased to 50. The eventual target number is 100.