‘Something that will last a lifetime’

Bill Taylor MCIOB of Beard Construction was the Gold winner in the Refurbishment & Restoration category at last year’s CIOB Awards. He tells CM what the recognition means for him and his team

At Radley College Chapel in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Bill Taylor managed the extension and reordering of a Grade II-listed chapel. It was a complex scheme requiring careful management of many heritage trades, which ran for 112 weeks.

Taylor deservedly took the Gold award in the Refurbishment & Restoration category at the 2022 CIOB Awards.

“I have to say, winning the CIOB award was something I never expected to achieve. When they called my name out at the ceremony I was flabbergasted!” Taylor says.

He is, however, careful to stress that the project was a team effort.

“The award really boosted me as an individual, but more so the credit has to go to the brilliant team of craftsmen and women who worked alongside us to deliver the scheme,” he says.

Taylor describes the project at Radley as “truly a one-off” and was determined that Beard would win the contract and make a success of the delivery from the first meeting he had with the college, prior to tendering the job.

Notable achievements include the new sanctuary’s octagonal timber roof, which Taylor arranged to be built off site, using BIM to coordinate the design. His team had

The award really boosted me as an individual, but more so the credit has to go to the brilliant team of craftsmen and women who worked alongside us to deliver the scheme

Bill Taylor, Beard Construction

to construct the new sanctuary’s marble floor so that it lined up with the handmade bricks of the wall and slotted between stone arches.

He also devised temporary support to leave in situ a huge stained-glass window, as the wall beneath was manually removed to make the opening into the new sanctuary.

“There is a lot of work to do to enter for the awards and the interview process can feel quite intimidating, but we are selected for our projects and the way we run them sets us at the top of our game,” Taylor says.

“I have been in construction for 38 years now and when I set out on my journey as an apprentice carpenter this was something I could never have dreamed of achieving.

“If anyone is thinking of entering the awards, I would say do it. You will not regret it at all. It’s a great experience and to be recognised by the CIOB and leaders in the industry is something that will last a lifetime.” ●