KEEPING business a family affair has certainly worked for Beard Construction, which has been voted best family business of the last 30 years in the South West.

The 126-year-old family-run firm, with its HQ in Swindon on Faraday Road, was founded by EW Beard and is today run by great grandson, Mark Beard, and Mark’s father, Alan Beard.

Since Mark joined the company, aged 25, it has seen its turnover leap from £18 million in 1999 to £144.5 million this year.

To celebrate the awards’ 30th year organisers PwC invited winners from previous years to re-enter, making the accolade won by Beard the ‘Winner of Winners’ of family businesses in the last 30 years.

Chief executive Mark Beard said: “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of Beard’s fantastic team of talented and dedicated people, who are committed to making every construction project a prompt and faultless delivery for our customers.

“It’s this focus and our continued investment in training and developing our people which drives our business performance and ensures we’re fit for the future.

“I think they particularly liked the value and culture of the business, and that was striking factor – the friendly, efficient and committed feeling about the company, how everyone is very much bought into the overall ethos of what we’re trying to achieve.”

Commenting on Beard’s award, an independent panel of judges said: “The recognition award for family business acknowledges the success of Beard, a fourth generation, family-owned construction business, which has outperformed its sector whilst delivering high returns on assets and diversifying for the future.”

The company recently finished a modern Fish Brothers show room with a steel and glass front for Nissan and Skoda in West Swindon, and completed an extension to St Joseph’s school on Ocotal Way in Swindon.