Business Profile
Francis Construction - Independent and family run
14th February 2008
FRANCIS Construction operates from modern premises in Thatcham ,which has been its base for five years, relocating from Tilehurst, where the company had operated from since 1948.
The company provides a wide range of construction services, ranging from private and association housing, schools, industrial, offices ,community projects, and restoration work throughout the Thames Valley and Home Counties and enjoys a turn-over of around £12 million annually, employing 45 staff.
This independent, family-run company unusually in these times of centralisation and mergers retains its own joinery workshops and a core of directly employed craftsmen whose skills have been central to the success of a series of projects in refurbishment and alteration at Eton College, and the construction in a conservation area at Oxford of some stonebuilt cottages.
Recent projects include a major negotiated conference centre at Slough for Mars Foods, valued at £3.5 million, which represents a good example of the firm’s ability to manage high-tech, fast-track projects, using its supply chain partners and the latest sustainable construction measures, on a design-and-build basis.
The company has just completed a new £750,000 community medical centre at Richmond Lock, West London for client Ashley House, in a record 36 weeks, arranging final fitting of specialist medical equipment in the process. From this success it expects to carry out a further project for the same client at Harrow.
A further recent specialisation has been in supported housing for disabled people where purpose-designed bungalows are being built in a £1.5 million project in Reading. In a similar category are warden-managed flats for young people with learning difficulties at Holyport.
Reflecting current high land prices Francis Construction is also building for private clients on existing sites in Virginia Water and Barnes, where greater site utilisation has come from providing new basement construction. While further changes in society are evident in another current contract for the provision of high quality accommodation for wedding guests at Wasing Estate, near Newbury.
The company has built a strong relationship with its suppliers and this has provided a base for the highest quality, coupled with an effective customer care policy. Safety on site takes the highest priority, where the company has one of the lowest accident rates in the industry.
Managing director Mark Barrett summed up the company’s mission for the future. He said: “We will build on solid traditional values of service to the local community, a non-adversarial relationship with repeat clients and relationship with his staff based on ‘Investors in People’ standards, providing ongoing training and career development.”
Francis Construction
Tel: (01635) 862222
Fax: (01635) 876996
Web: www.francisconstruction.co.uk
E-mail: sales@franciscontruction.co.uk
