Celebrating 20 Years of Harwood: From Canterbury Roots to National Reach

This year marks a significant milestone for Harwood – 20 years since the business first opened its doors in Canterbury, Kent.

What began as a small local operation has grown into a nationally recognised Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA), with offices now spanning Canterbury, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and London/Surrey.

David Woodward, Chief Executive, whose leadership has been central to the company’s growth from a single-office start-up to the multi-regional business it is today, comments:

 

A Growing Footprint

In the early years, Harwood’s workload centred largely on residential projects, reflecting the needs of the local Kent market. As the business expanded, so did the breadth and complexity of the work.

Today, Harwood’s teams operate across a far wider range of sectors, including healthcare, education, and many commercial projects, alongside continued residential and mixed-use development work.

The diversification has been accompanied by physical expansion. From its original location in Canterbury, Harwood has established offices in Milton Keynes, Sheffield, and London/Surrey, enabling the company to serve clients and work on projects nationwide.

As David explains:

“We have always held that growth should be based on our clients’ needs. The decision to open new offices in Milton Keynes, Sheffield and in London/Surrey was about being closer to the projects and people we work with, to provide a local presence and expertise our clients value.”

Navigating a Changing Regulatory Landscape

Few periods have tested the building control profession as much as the years following the Grenfell Tower disaster. The subsequent overhaul of building safety legislation reshaped the regulatory landscape, placing new demands on approvers and the wider industry alike.

Harwood’s status as a Registered Building Control Approver reflects the team’s ability to adapt to that shifting environment while continuing to deliver a consistent, high-quality service to clients.

David comments:

“The changes in building safety regulations over the past few years have been among the most significant in our industry’s history. Our team have made great efforts to keep ahead of these changes – not only to remain compliant but also to support our clients during a time of real complexity. This ability to adapt has always been at the heart of what we do.”

Celebrating the People Behind Harwood

While Harwood’s growth is evident in its expanding footprint and project portfolio, none of it would have been possible without the team driving it.

As Harwood has grown, so has its team, bringing together expertise across the building control profession and creating opportunities for people to develop their careers as the business continues to evolve.

To celebrate the anniversary, the Harwood team recently travelled to Prague for a weekend together, allowing colleagues from across the company to celebrate together away from the office.

David adds:

“As Harwood continues to grow from strength to strength, we wanted our 20th anniversary to be an opportunity to recognise the people who have made that possible.

“We are very thankful for the hard work, dedication, and professionalism our team has continually shown, whether on site, assisting clients, or working behind the scenes. The trip was our way of saying thanks and showing what we have achieved together.”

Here’s to the Next 20 Years!

Twenty years on, Harwood’s journey has been one of steady, deliberate growth – built on relationships, technical expertise, and a readiness to evolve with an industry that has changed significantly since 2005.

“Reaching twenty years is a major achievement, but there is plenty more to come,” David says. “We are very thankful to the clients, partners, and team members who have been part of our journey so far and look forward to what the next chapter holds for Harwood.

As Harwood marks this anniversary, our focus remains firmly on the future: continuing to grow across sectors and regions while maintaining the values and approach that have shaped the business from the outset.

If you’re looking for a building control partner with two decades of experience, national reach, and genuine expertise across a range of sectors, get in touch with us.