The construction solutions provider

Managing Director

Sixty years ago, Baxall Construction Ltd started out as a building contractor.

Now the company, which prides itself on “doing it differently”, is described as a “solutions provider for the built environment” by its Managing Director Malcolm Clarke.

“The reason we’re so successful after 60 yearsin business is we’re doing it differently,” explains Malcolm.

“We have grown from being a building contractor in 1964 and evolving over the years into a solutions provider for the built environment.”

Baxall uses the whole life circle of Design, Construct, Maintain and Optimise to deliver beyond client expectations.

“That means we’re designing it, building it and then maintaining it. During its life, it’s about optimising the building making energy savings and ensuring the health and wellbeing of the occupants,” he says.

“When you start to look at that and understand what it means to the life of a facility, you start to see real value. You start to deliver something better and more sustainable.

“The Construction Playbook – [Government guidance on how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered] – looks at how industry and local authorities deliver value, social value and environmental impact. That’s at the core of a potential massive change in the industry. It’s all connected to our Green Plan.”

The company, which is based in Kent and works across London and the South East, has launched its Carbon Reduction Plan, a road map to delivering Net Zero ahead of the national target.

Estimates suggest that the built environment contributes up to 40 per cent of the UK’s total carbon footprint – including the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings – while the UK Green Building Council states that about 10 per cent of emissions are directly attributable to construction work.

“Making tangible progress on Net Zero is fundamental to Baxall as a business,” says Malcolm.

“We believe delivering Net Zero by 2050 should come sooner – that’s why we have set ourselves a bold target of being Net Zero even earlier.”

Baxall’s target for Net Zero is partial reduction by 2030 and to be completely Net Zero by 2045.

In September 2021, Baxall successfully secured Government funding to support a 24-month project known as the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) working alongside academics from the University of Kent to develop AI-driven data analytics framework using data related to the construction process and smart monitoring sensors to assess the operation of buildings alongside occupancy performance data.

“We’re on the last leg of the KTP project where we are collecting data from completed buildings we have designed, for example, schools, community centres and medical centres,” he says.

“We take hard data such as air quality, relative humidity, temparature, occupation level and movement as well as soft data from the building occupants on how they feel about the building. We look at data such as absenteeism, business performance, staff retention.

“What we are recognising is the more data you have, the more you build a really strong picture of where the best design decisions have been made.”

They are also using this data and knowledge to upgrade their o n offices having collected data on delivery and travel for over 15 years, as part of their ongoing plan to reduce their carbon emissions.

As you would expect of a company with the slogan, ‘Buildings built on teamwork’, Baxall Construction prides itself on being a peoplefocused employer and Malcolm says their “family approach” of including everyone in the business is key to their success.

We haven t stood still e have evolved and developed over the years,” he says.

“We have gone through Brexit, Covid, the effects of the war in Ukraine and Government instability so it has been harder in the past few years, but we have also gone through recessions in the past.

We are versatile and e ible and very team oriented.

“We have also created good governance across the business, where everyone can grow and develop.

“To be successful we use the business balance scorecard of People, Customers, Process and Finance, all of which have to be in balance to mainatin a sustainable business.” ts success has led to the firm achieving its Investors in People (Platinum) Award, which has recently been renewed.

The company established the Baxall Academy in 2016, which supports all Baxall employees to attain professional qualifications from entry level staff members to the senior leadership team. Now 84 per cent of their staff have professional qualifications.

The Academy works with the CIOB, SECBE(IFLP), apprentice organisations, local colleges, the University of Kent and supply chain partners to provide a strategic leadership programme, apprenticeships and continued professional development (CPD) for all employees.

The business became an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in 2020, which has been a “real win for Baxall”.

“We’re a family which means that everyone is part of the business,” explains Malcolm.

“The EOT has enabled the business to continue with its original feel without having to sell the business to other people or bring on venture capitalists or amalgamate with other businesses.

“If you get the right atmosphere and people enjoy being in the team, they will make that extra effort. The whole team ethos is so strong – and more so since we introduced the EOT.

“We have people who have joined us from school and are no in their fifties and orking as Directors. We have others joining us at a more senior level who can’t believe what we offer. Our strategic leadership programme is training the current and future leaders of the business. At senior level, eight people have gone on the 12-month Innovative Future Leadership Programme (IFLP), delivered by SECBE, a non profit organisation supporting the sector.

“It’s been a game-changer and gives them confidence.

The company, which has been a member of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, is holding a two-day Baxall Festival in July for its employees, their families and business friends to celebrate their 60th anniversary. As part of the ongoing celebrations to mark the milestone, they are also holding a Baxall Open Day in September for the local community including residents schools and business to visit and get to know more about the business and meet the team. They are also sponsoring the gala dinner at the Kent Construction Expo.

“We are heading for 100-plus employees, but we have retained that family feel as we’ve grown into a bigger business,” adds Malcolm.

“People talk about being part of the Baxall family – and that’s because we’re doing it differently.”

Head of

Price – CE , Kent nvicta

Ashford of the Potential o Gen Shaping the Future of Digital

Connor Styche – MD, The Digital Lookout Chair

David Smith – Director of Strategic Partnerships,

12.30 – 13.00

ESG and Social Value: Integrating Sustainability into Construction Practices

With speakers from Betteridge & Milsom, Morgan Sindall and Social Enterprise Kent

A New Culture of Accountability

Geoff Wilkinson – Managing Director, Wilkinson Construction Consultants

AI Revolution in Construction Speaker to be announced

Mental Health in the Construction Industry: Breaking the Silence

With speakers from Lighthouse Safety

AI-Powered Clash

Detection: Revolutionising Construction Coordination

Speakers include: Robert Atkinson – Head of Design, Morgan Sindall

Sustainable Materials and Supply Chain: Building a Greener Future

With speakers from: System de Min, Whitecode Consulting, Severn Trent Connect, and Zed Pods

Cladding Retrofit: Strategies for Safer Structures

Speakers include: Lee Caroll –Partner, Bailey Partnership

Working with Housing Associations

With speakers from Town and Country Housing and West Kent Housing Association

The Principal Designer’s Role in Ensuring Building Safety Act Compliance

Speakers include Mark Chandler – Founder and Director, Stonewells

15.30 – 16.00 Closing Keynote Story of Succession and Business Success

Bar opens (open to all)

Drinks reception sponsored by DHA Planning (ticketed event) 18.00

Gala Dinner - Sponsored by Baxall (ticketed event)

Bidding Better Social Value

Cheryl Causebrook – Chair, Kent Constructing Excellence. Nicola Dibb – Managing Director, NDA Bid Writers and Solve Social Value Ltd

Please note: This year’s programme features staggered session times for in-depth discussions and varied formats; visit the website for exact timings and confirmed speakers. Many sessions are panel discussions followed by networking opportunities.