A Word From The Chairman - Barnes Construction

During 2023, Barnes Construction celebrated our 45^th Anniversary. To mark the occasion, we shared 45 facts about the business culminating in the 45^th and final fact which was a custom made video starting at our old base at New Cut West in Ipswich through to our current home in Bermuda Road. We are extremely grateful to the many friends of our business who have helped us over the years as we have transitioned from a small family business to one of the largest privately owned family-run construction companies in the East of England. William Barnes, Chairman, has provided a few words to mark the landmark for our business as we continue to work in a sustainable, innovative and collaborative manner with our clients, consultants and supply chain.  

“A month after Ipswich Town FC had lifted the FA cup, my father, David Barnes, founded a new construction business in Ipswich called ‘Landlink Barnes Limited’. From modest initial surroundings at New Cut West in Ipswich’s dock area, a small group of employees would work hard through difficult initial trading conditions to win several early contracts and a reputation as a fair, non-adversarial business. Many of these relationships have endured through to the present day including Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Hospital and Travelodge UK.  This ethos remains a core pillar of the business. Operating now as a close to £100m turnover business, we cover a diverse portfolio of sectors including health, education, decarbonisation, hotels and commercial sectors and we are absolutely focussed to maintaining the same trust, fairness and adaptability that has underpinned our business philosophy for 45 years.

As Landlink Barnes expanded, a new office was sought at the Ransomes Europark on the outskirts of Ipswich at Bermuda Road to house the growing number of staff and new trading name of ‘Barnes Construction’ with the incorporation of the well-known Owl logo in 1983. Over the years we have expanded further as sustainable growth has increased the need for office space to house our various departments. At the time of our 45^th anniversary, our current offices are undergoing further refurbishments through to the middle of 2024 as a highly energy efficient and modern workplace for all of our current staff.

Over our 45 years of trading, we have seen periods of great change within the industry. Our business has adapted, but the bedrock has always been the importance of our long-term relationships with our clients, consultants, sub-contractors and suppliers. Our staff remain crucial to this; each year I am delighted to present long-service awards to those within the group that have stayed with us – the numbers are astonishing, and testament to my father’s belief that we would not only be a construction business, but an employer that would ensure that staff are happy, content and feel included as part of a true family business. Underpinned by our Management trainee programme that has developed over 80 staff, three directors and one associate; we ensure that we retain and develop our staff to build the long term relationships and knowledge to serve our clients.

Whilst the industry grapples with significant changes to the building safety act, inflation, workforce availability and skills shortages, technological advancements, extreme weather and the climate crisis, our business will maintain its core principles to ensure that we remain the fair, resilient and proactive construction partner of our clients. We remain extremely proud to serve our local communities and grateful for the support and commitment of our excellent supply chain to help us deliver social value back into areas that we work. We strive to lead in our response to the climate emergency; providing carbon-reducing options for our clients and cutting our impact on sites, whilst training our staff and suppliers and investing in R&D to ensure that sustainability is high on the agenda of our day-to-day and project operations.  

Barnes Construction remains a people-centred business, placing great store by its collaborative relationships, innovative approaches and sustainable business methods. Thank you to all who celebrated our 45^th anniversary with us last year, and we look forward working with you again.”