________________________________________________________________________________________ Francis Construction
“ We also work within the commercial , industrial and office sector . We ’ re currently delivering a £ 15.5 million scheme for SEGRO in Slough ; a 110,000 square-foot warehouse and production site , which makes it our biggest project ever in terms of scale and value .” Will was quick to highlight that , whilst Francis works on larger long-term projects such as this , it also takes on smaller jobs where speed , flexibility and delivery certainty are key , keeping it close to the original roots of the business .
Unique partnerships
Franics ’ route to Carbon Net Zero is well developed and it is currently undertaking an office-block refurbishment at Oxford Business Park for ARC who are at the heart of the UK science and innovation clusters . “ It ’ s been a busy time for the business . We ’ re working on our fifth building in a row for ARC . The refurbishment of these projects reflects the importance of sustainability and acknowledges the positive carbon benefits refurbishment provides over new build options .
“ We ’ re also undertaking some work in the residential market , working closely with local councils to provide energy efficient , lowcarbon housing . We ’ ve adopted passive house principles for these projects , which will serve as affordable housing for housing associations and Local Authority social housing schemes . It ’ s been incredibly rewarding designing and delivering low carbon housing both in terms of during the build and in operation , leading to low operating costs for those most in need for generations .
“ Adapting to different levels , materials , and specifications can be very challenging . The regulatory changes over the past five years have far exceeded the previous 20 years . I think it really speaks to the skill and dedication of our team that we ’ re able to be successful in so many different sectors at once .”
In the competitive world of construction , Francis Construction offers its clients a unique kind of partnership , as Will asserts : “ Our longterm approach is what sets us apart . We build strong relationships with our clients , based on mutual respect and trust . Following the completion of one of our most recent projects , we returned some money back to the client . We had finished under budget , and met our margin expectations , so we were able to give some of their original investment back , as well as providing them with a completed project . It ’ s a way of showing them that as a business we prioritise partnerships over profit . We pride ourselves on the fact that over 94 percent of our business comes from repeat clients .”
Staying true to traditional values has allowed Francis Construction to endure for over a century . Will and his team take lessons from the past , to ensure the company ’ s future : “ We ’ re not currently on a growth trajectory . Our focus is instead on providing good value to our clients . We want to be a consistent , reliable partner , who people want to come back and work with time and again .
“ We ’ re always developing our ideas and deepening our knowledge of construction so that we can provide an even better service . Our team takes a very innovative approach , we ’ re always looking out for new technologies that can support our clients and improve outcomes . The stronger our partnerships , and the broader our offering , the stronger we will be against external challenges . Changing economies , material scarcity , labour shortages - all these factors can make or break a business . My goal is to future-proof Francis Construction , so we can keep doing what we do best , adding value to the built environment ,” he concludes . ■
www
. francisconstruction . co . uk
ccemagazine . com 145