Warden has appointed Ian Powell as head of group development, marking a significant step forward in the company’s regional growth strategy.

Ian brings over thirty years of experience in the construction industry, most recently serving as head of development at Lowbury Construction Ltd, where he worked for eight years.

Ian will work closely with teams across the company to develop lasting client relationships and drive long-term, strategic growth.

He will lead business development efforts by strengthening our presence across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, while accelerating our expansion into Cheshire.

He will also be responsible for ensuring that growth initiatives align with our core values and strategic direction, while elevating our profile across public and private sector markets.

Ian Williams, managing director, said: “Welcoming Ian to the team marks another important milestone in Warden’s journey. In recent years, we’ve expanded both our operations and the sectors we support, and it was important to find someone with the experience and industry relationships to help us build on that momentum.

“His appointment ensures we remain focused on delivering sustainable, long-term growth across the North West and we’re confident that his leadership will play a key role in the next chapter of Warden’s success.”

Ian’s career is defined by his leadership in construction innovation. He recently developed the Carbon Reduction Initiative, a data analysis tool designed to help companies minimise their carbon footprint during site surveys. It won “Innovation of the Year” at the 2024 Constructing Excellence Awards.

Ian Powell added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape and expand Warden’s already strong client base. I’m excited to be supporting the company’s growth into new markets while building on the work already being done in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

“Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to build a strong network within the construction industry. My focus now is on raising awareness of Warden’s capabilities and making sure we continue to deliver exceptional service to some of the most respected names in the sector.”

A two-year construction project to enable a Preston primary school to double its pupil intake and transform its facilities has been completed.

Warden has officially handed over the project at Lea Community Primary School which has created four new classrooms, a new playground and an all-weather play area with climbing equipment, sensory garden and interactive area.

As part of the makeover, the school’s library, kitchens and areas around the key stage 1 classrooms have also been renovated. The £3.5m project has been funded through Lancashire County Council’s Department for Education grant.

It means that pupils will benefit from a hugely improved learning environment and better play facilities, while the school will be able to open its doors to an extra 210 pupils in future years, doubling the current intake.

Members of our project team joined children, teachers, and councillors to mark the official handover of the new facilities at the school.

Adrian Atkinson, director at Warden, said: “This has been an incredibly rewarding project for Warden Construction, delivering beautiful new classrooms and modern, state-of-the-art play facilities, as well additional social value outcomes.

“These improvements will allow children to fully benefit from the new spaces, and the school will now be able to double its intake, which is a fantastic boost for the community.”

Headteacher Lynne Slater said: “We are very pleased that our children and school community are going to see the benefit of the improvements to our school.

“The interactive play area and trim trail are wonderful and will really give the children and our school community the chance to grow and to make the most of the learning and play opportunities.

“This will improve the physical, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as improve their learning opportunities, and provide a significant boost to the local community in terms of additional school places.”

Councillor Matthew Salter, cabinet member for Education and Skills, said: “I’m delighted to be attending the official handover of the new facilities at Lea Primary School, and to speak to children and staff firsthand about how they welcome these new additions.

“I was impressed with the standard of the new additions and pleased that we are investing in the future. This will mean that the school can double its intake, and that more children and families in the local community will be able to enjoy learning here in the coming years.”

Representing Warden at the official handover were director Adrian Atkinson, health and safety advisor Bethany Elder, site manager Andy Worthington, contract manager Geoff Noblett, social value coordinator Heather Thompson, and marketing assistant Laura Atkinson.

As part of our social value delivery on the project, we undertook several school visits to engage pupils in construction learning activity and also donated prizes for the school’s summer fairs over the course of the project.

The project also saw new planting and landscaping with 30 new trees and 10 new bushes, while two new electric vehicle charges and solar panels were also incorporated into the project.

The professional team included Walsh IBS (electricians), North Star (groundworks) and Walsh IBS (mechanical).

Warden has completed work on a project that’s helped to deliver a new public square in Gorton town centre in Manchester.

We were appointed by Manchester City Council to transform an underused car park between Gorton Market and Tesco into a new flexible space, designed to improve connectivity through the town, encourage footfall, and host events.

The design of the square was shaped through consultation with residents and community groups, focusing on enhancing the space with new public realm features and upgraded infrastructure.

Works included the installation of interactive play features, light projections, and a nature area with new planters and trees, as well as improved pedestrian and cycling routes to ensure safer, more accessible movement through the area.

Approximately 1,900 square metres of the area was resurfaced with footpaths and a new access road and additional infrastructure has been installed, with new lighting, signage, and street furniture to enhance the square’s usability.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “We are incredibly proud to have played our role in bringing this vibrant new public square to life for the people of Gorton.

“Seeing this underused space transformed into a welcoming heart for the community, one that complements the existing market and offers opportunities for connection and enjoyment for all ages, is truly rewarding. We believe this thoughtfully designed square will be a cornerstone of Gorton’s ongoing regeneration, and we look forward to seeing it thrive.”

Bev Craig, Leader of the Council, adds: “We are investing in our local communities across the city because we know how important Manchester’s high streets are to the people they serve. This isn’t just about accessing services easily; this is also about creating pride in our local spaces and neighbourhoods our residents want to live in.

“We know that Manchester people want to live in welcoming, clean and green communities that support businesses, create jobs and provide opportunities for new affordable housing.

“This is what we’re doing in Gorton, and we have our sights set on other district centres, for future investment that will continue our ongoing commitment to investing in the things our local communities want and need.”

We worked in partnership with Manchester City Council and local stakeholders, and alongside Halliday Meecham Architects and DEP landscape architects on the design of the square and helped secure the required planning approvals

As part of our commitment to social value, a series of community-focused initiatives have been delivered to support residents and leave a lasting legacy in Gorton.

The team visited St James’ Primary School, delivering two engaging sessions that introduced pupils to the built environment and the many career opportunities within construction. The aim was to inspire the next generation to see construction as an exciting, inclusive, and meaningful industry.

“The lesson was perfectly pitched and married up with our story and builders topic brilliantly. The Lego session was lovely, so engaging and made the links of building so well.

“It was just wonderful for the children to see you and the safety equipment and the illustrations of the new Gorton build.”

– Teacher, St James’ Primary School.

In addition, we engaged with young people not currently in education, employment or training (NEETs) at the Gorton Hub Job Centre, offering advice and guidance on how to access opportunities within the construction industry.

To further support the local community, we donated materials and equipment to the Men’s Sheds group based at Gorton Monastery, helping them progress with their latest project promoting wellbeing and social connection.

Further investment is planned for the area later this year, as part of the wider regeneration vision for Gorton, including the development of new affordable homes that will overlook the newly improved public square.

We recently worked with Manchester City Council on the delivery of a new eco-style modular café building, occupied by Grounded MCR, in Cringle Park, Levenshulme.

Warden has completed work on a new permanent home for a popular Manchester café venture that helps people with anxiety get into employment.

We worked with Manchester City Council to provide a new eco-style modular café building which has allowed community interest company Grounded MCR to have a larger, permanent base in Cringle Park, Levenshulme.

The new home includes accessible toilet facilities for park visitors and complements several other recent investments made by the council in Cringle Park, including upgraded competition standard tennis courts, outdoor gym equipment, improvements to the play area and a new zip wire. The new facilities were officially opened by Lord Mayor, Councillor Paul Andrews.

Grounded MCR CIC was set up in 2021 by local couple Natalie and Kerry and previously operated as a mobile coffee stand, moving its distinctive yellow trike between Cringle Park and Platt’s Fields and appearing at local markets, festivals and events.

It has helped many vulnerable young people and adults to learn barista and hospitality skills, helping them to gain confidence and boost their employability skills. It welcomes people dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, or other challenges that might make them feel vulnerable.

Ian Williams, managing director, said: “This is a great project to be involved in and one that will provide many benefits for local people. Grounded MCR is more than just the delicious coffee and cake, it’s providing a valuable community service and supporting people towards better mental wellbeing.

“We’re proud to have worked with Manchester City Council to provide Grounded MCR with a vibrant social space that will allow them to do so much more to help people.”

Natalie Lobel from Grounded MCR, said: “Grounded Manchester CIC is so happy to have been given the chance to open a community cafe in Cringle Park. Thank you to MCC – between us we can support local disadvantaged people into work whilst improving the mental health of our staff and customers. We can’t wait to get cracking.”

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: “We’ve created a strong partnership with the community in Cringle Park and the result is this fantastic new cafe and toilet facility where people can relax, enjoy quality food and drinks and feel part of the wider community.

“We are investing in our parks with our communities as they are places where people can enjoy nature, play sport and feel pride in their park – they are not just green spaces, they bring people together and are beneficial for both our physical and mental health.

“Our commitment is demonstrated in the 50% uplift we’ve seen in Park visitors from pre pandemic level. 9.2 million park visitors across the city in the past 12 months”

Our work on the £200,000 project involved the preparation works for the new facility, including new drainage and foundations and installing the new modular building and accessible toilet facilities.

In addition to the cafe, extensive planting and landscaping improvements have been made, including a new ‘green roof’ to ensure the cafe is sympathetic to the park surroundings.

The cafe will be serving a range of affordable hot and cold food and beverages and in line with the council’s commitment to reducing food waste, Grounded MCR will be working with FareShare to save unused food from being wasted.

Warden faced a surprising turn of events at our office in Kirkham when staff discovered, and helped to rehome, over 20,000 honey bees.

While investigating an unusual hum outside the office, our team uncovered a hive of approximately 23,000 bees hidden inside a manhole cover at the bottom of the car park.

The discovery was as fascinating as it was rare, honey bees typically make their homes in trees or above-ground spaces, not underground infrastructure.

Recognising the importance of handling the situation responsibly, our operations team contacted the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) to remove the bees safely.

Once they arrived, the BBKA team removed the manhole cover and used a nucleus box as a mock hive to successfully gather and relocate the entire hive, ensuring the wellbeing of both the bees and our staff.

The colony has since been rehomed across several local bee farms, where they will continue their vital work producing honey, pollinating local plant life, and playing an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Eric Hassall, member of the Blackpool & Fylde British Beekeepers association, said: “Honey bees typically make their homes in trees, so finding a hive in an underground manhole is highly unusual, and made for a particularly complex removal. Down to sheer luck, we were fortunate enough to capture the queen which encouraged the rest of the colony to follow into the nucleus box.

“The team at Warden handled the situation exactly as they should have, by contacting us rather than pest control. Bees are vital to our environment, and relocating a hive of this size helps preserve a pollinator population that plays a major role in sustaining local ecosystems.”

Ian Williams, managing director, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the BBKA for their quick action and deep knowledge. It’s not every day you find tens of thousands of bees beneath your office, but we’re proud to have helped protect these important pollinators.”

Warden brought the team together for an afternoon of connection, recognition, and inspiration at its annual company update.

The event, held this year at Haydock Racecourse, served as an opportunity for staff from across the business to come together, celebrate key milestones, and look ahead at our plans for 2025.

Managing director Ian Williams and other members of the leadership team led a series of presentations reflecting on our 2024 achievements, highlighting the positive impact of our social value initiatives in the communities we serve, and outlining our strategic goals for the year ahead.

A presentation was also delivered by Andy’s Man Club, a suicide prevention charity that runs free peer-to-peer support groups for men across the UK, on the importance of mental health awareness in the workplace.

The afternoon was topped off with our annual staff awards, celebrating individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond over the past year.

This year’s awards included Apprentice & Mentor of the Year (Connor Holmes & Teri Robinson), Building Something Greater (Blackpool Youth Hub), WOW Factor Quality (Osian Griffiths), People’s Choice Award (Neil Gorst), HSE Champion (Neil Addison) and the Top Gun Award (Chris Seville).

Ian Williams, our managing director, said: “Bringing our people together is always a highlight of the year. It’s a chance to celebrate achievements, reflect on our impact, and share our ambitions for the future.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work the team has delivered over the past 12 months, and I’m confident that, together, we’ll continue to build something greater in 2025 and beyond.”

Warden is proud to have won the ‘Transformation Award’ at the 2025 Red Rose Awards – one of the region’s leading business awards events.

The prestigious award recognises businesses that can demonstrate how ongoing transformation has resulted in improved performance or growth, while servicing customer needs and securing new opportunities.

Last year we made significant investments in our people-focused strategies and also putting social value at the heart of everything we do.

This included building a more inclusive workforce, focusing on continuous development opportunities, and empowering employees with the tools and training they need to grow.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “Transformation is an ongoing journey that we’ve embraced by embedding our values into everything we do. We’re passionate about making sure our people feel valued by creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

“Beyond the workplace, we’ve built a real sense of team spirit, whether we’re tackling a Tough Mudder together or driving sustainability initiatives, we know our impact goes beyond just business. Through training incentives to our apprenticeship programme, we’re constantly investing in our people because their success is our success. This award reflects that commitment, to wellbeing, learning, and growing together as a team.”

As well as winning the ‘Transformation Award’, we were also a finalist for the ‘Built Environment Award’ which recognises businesses whose work contributes to Lancashire’s built environment.

Hosted by Lancashire Business View, the Red Rose Awards celebrate Lancashire’s business excellence by providing a platform to showcase success, highlight achievements and build connections across the county’s industries.

For more information and to see the full list of winners, please visit: www.redroseawards.co.uk.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new social value lead, reinforcing our commitment to delivering lasting benefits to the communities we operate in.

Heather Thompson has joined as a social value co-ordinator, ensuring that meaningful social value continues to be embedded at the highest level in every project we deliver.

Drawing on 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Heather brings a strong background in stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and project coordination, with proven expertise in managing community-focused initiatives.

She will lead our corporate social responsibility efforts, oversee events and develop strategies to boost the positive impact of its projects by working closely with community groups and suppliers to support workforce development and training.

This involves building strong relationships with clients and developing communications with the site teams to achieve social value targets. She will also support with apprenticeship recruitment and preconstruction bids.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “At Warden, our philosophy of building something greater goes beyond constructing buildings, it’s about improving lives and enriching communities.

“Heather’s background is a perfect match for our commitment to social responsibility. She will help to ensure our projects create real, measurable benefits within our communities while driving sustainable growth and lasting success.

“We’re excited to see the fresh ideas she brings to the team and trust her approach will set a new standard for community-focused business practices across all our projects.”

Heather adds: “I was really impressed with Warden’s dedication to social value. The whole team has bought into the ethos of benefiting people, communities and the environment, as well as creating a more inclusive, responsible industry.

“I’m excited to step into my new role and make a meaningful difference, building on the great work Warden has achieved over the years.”

Warden has strengthened its leadership team with the promotion of James Flitcroft to the role of construction director.

James has been promoted from his previous role as operations manager, making him our fourth director alongside managing director Ian Williams, commercial director Adrian Atkinson, and financial director Dan Culshaw.

The wider management team also includes HSEQ manager Edwin Esevohare and business development manager Susie Harrison-Serella.

As operations manager, James was responsible for managing all phases of project delivery, leading teams, overseeing design and risk management, and reporting on contract progress.

In his new role, he will continue to oversee project delivery while taking on additional leadership responsibilities, playing a key role in driving improvements to the efficiency and quality of our delivery processes.

James Flitcroft

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “This promotion reflects James’ dedication, hard work, and significant contribution to the business over the past two years.

“It also highlights Warden’s ongoing commitment to people development, nurturing talent and supporting the continued growth of the company. We are confident that his expertise and vision will further strengthen our position as a leading SME in the construction industry.”

James adds: “I’m excited to step into the role of construction director. It’s been an amazing journey so far, with plenty of exciting projects in the pipeline, and I’m proud to be part of such a strong team.

“Working alongside Ian, Adrian, and Dan, I’m confident we’ll keep building on Warden’s success and make our mark in the industry. I’m looking forward to playing my part and continuing to improve the way we deliver projects for our clients and the communities we serve.”

Warden has completed construction work ahead of schedule on a £1.7m expansion of a youth centre in Blackpool, that will provide new opportunities for young people in the area.

Set to open in the spring, the expanded Blackpool Youth Zone will offer a variety of activities for young people and provide a safe and supportive space to learn, grow, and develop their talents.

We completed work on the state-of-the-art centre and handed the keys over to Blackpool Council two months earlier than expected.

Located on Gorton Street in the Talbot and Brunswick area of the town, we replaced the outdated facility with a 3,229 sq ft single storey, multi-use building.

It includes a fully equipped kitchen area, offices, toilets, two large halls for physical activities, and two smaller rooms that will host a range of other programmes, including gaming sessions.

In addition to the structural work, we completed extensive mechanical installations, including air source heating systems and IT infrastructure. External works, service infrastructure, and drainage systems have also been completed, ensuring the building is fully functional and ready for use.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “We’re really pleased with the progress we’ve made on the Blackpool Youth Zone. Working closely with Blackpool Council and Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, we’re proud to be part of a project that will have a lasting impact on residents in the area.

“Social value is at the heart of everything we do. For this project, we sourced much of the supply chain locally and provided valuable apprentice training to our team, helping the local workforce gain valuable skills.

“Alongside the construction work, our team got involved in the community by volunteering at the local food bank, took part in litter-picking, and planted trees on site.”

Councillor Kath Benson, cabinet member for young people and aspiration, adds: “I am absolutely thrilled that the centre has been handed over two months ahead of schedule.

“Young people from the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club helped to design the building and it is great to see their suggestions come to life. Over the next few months, all the furniture will be delivered and installed ahead of an official opening in the spring, it will be a very special day when it is full of young people for the first time.”

The scheme is being funded from a grant from the government’s Youth Investment Fund, which the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club and Blackpool Council secured.

Jed Sullivan, youth worker at Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, said: “The trustees are thrilled to announce the handover of our brand-new youth centre. This exceptional facility is the culmination of a fantastic partnership between us, Blackpool Council, and the DCMS Youth Investment Fund.

“Designed with our young people in mind, this state-of-the-art centre provides a safe and inspiring environment for learning, and what better way to celebrate our upcoming 90th anniversary than with the launch of this incredible space. We’re excited for this new chapter in our club’s history and the opportunities it will provide for the youth of Blackpool.”

Our team has played an active role in the community, volunteering at the local food bank, joining litter-picking efforts around Blackpool, and creating a time capsule to highlight the community’s contribution to the project’s success.

In addition, we ensured that 89% of the supply chain used was sourced locally, boosting the local economy and creating job opportunities.