Francis Construction.
Nominated for Business in Action sponsored by Boyes Turner
A family construction company that “champions local” have been put forward for the Business In Action under 50 employees award.
A nominator said Thatcham-based Francis Construction are not only pioneering and award-winning in their industry, they are huge supporter of local organisations and a key corporate partner for Reading youth counselling charity No5.
The charity said: “They go above and beyond to do what they can to support local people and local causes.
“They really champion local, and their values of legacy - working hard to make a lasting different in our community.”
They added the company take seriously their corporate social responsibility role, having arranged two fundraising golf days and a Reading-Paris cycle ride, plus taking part in the Paris marathon to raise funds.
“They are constantly on hand for ad-hoc pro bono maintenance work at our premises which is always completed to the highest standard and with warmth and a smile.”
A second nominator said of company chairman Mark Barrett: “Mark is an unsung hero of Reading. Kind, humble and always looking at the next thing he can do to help, with fundraising, mentoring etc.
“He's passed on his great ways to his son William who now works closely with Ethical Reading and gives his time to support local education partners, UTC's and Ethical Reading's schools programmes. They deserve recognition for their quiet brilliance.”
They listed the contributions that the company and Mark, a past president of Reading Matins Rotary Club, have made to the community. The firm have raised around £25,000 for No5 which, since 1971, has offered free, confidential counselling and mental health support for young people aged 11-25 who live, work or study in the RG postcode area.
They also raised £8,000 for Thames Valley Air Ambulance
Mark, a governor at The Wren School, has run multiple Reading half marathons for local charities
The latest Rotary project is to raise £80,000 for a new operating theatre in Uganda which Mark visited last year.
