Richard Preston Joins Harwood Building Control to Support the Next Phase of Growth

Harwood is pleased to welcome Richard Preston as Operations Director.

With more than 25 years of experience in operational management, building control, planning and wider property services, Richard joins at an important point in Harwood’s development, as the business continues to grow its national presence, invest in its people and strengthen its operational capability.

We sat down with Richard to learn more about his career, what attracted him to Harwood and how he hopes to support the business through its next stage of growth.

A Career Built Around Growth

Richard brings more than 25 years of experience across operational, regulatory and consultancy services in both the public and private sectors.

His career began at Salford City Council before he moved to Urban Vision, a joint venture between Capita, a local authority and Galliford Try, where he gained extensive experience in partnership working and public sector service delivery. He later spent 18 years with Capita, progressing into senior operational roles and most recently serving as Operations Director within its Place Services business.

Building control became a particularly important part of his career, although it wasn’t something Richard had originally planned.

“At the time, I was working across both planning and building control services, and I found myself increasingly drawn to building control. I was curious as to why such an important statutory service often seemed to receive less attention than planning.

“As my involvement grew, so did my appreciation of the role building control plays in protecting public safety and supporting the wider construction industry.”

One of Richard’s most significant achievements was helping grow an external building control operation from a team of just two people to around thirty plus, with significant revenue growth.

“That was an important period in my career because I was building the team and the business almost from scratch. I’ve always enjoyed that side of my work: building teams, developing people and looking at how operational capability can support the wider ambitions of a business.”

Why Harwood?

After many years in a large organisation, Richard was ready for a different kind of opportunity where he could play a more direct role in shaping the business’s future.

“What appealed to me about Harwood was the opportunity to work closely with David Woodward, Chief Executive, and Ben Cheeseman, Commercial Director, to understand what the business is trying to achieve and play a hands-on role in helping make that happen.

“I became really interested in the story of where Harwood had come from and where they wanted the business to go. I felt there was an opportunity to become part of that next chapter and genuinely contribute to its growth.”

Richard also felt Harwood’s culture suited his own leadership style.

“I’m a people person. I’d describe my leadership style as collaborative, authentic and transparent. I enjoy working with individuals, helping them develop and building high-performing teams.”

Building On Strong Foundations

Richard is clear that his focus is on building on what is already working and creating the capacity for continued, sustainable growth.

“Harwood is a well-run business with a good culture and a strong reputation. My role isn’t to come in and change everything; it’s about building on what already works.”

A strong existing client base and repeat work provide an important platform for that growth, alongside maintaining the quality of service and strong client relationships that have helped the business develop to date.

Richard sees the opportunity now as strengthening teams, building capability across the business and creating the capacity for continued growth without losing the quality of service people associate with Harwood.

Taking Harwood’s Culture Nationwide

Harwood’s strong presence in Canterbury, including its links with local organisations, businesses and the wider community, is something Richard believes can help inform its growth elsewhere.

“I see similarities with what Harwood has built in Canterbury and some of the smaller, locally connected businesses I worked in earlier in my career.

“There is a real sense of community around the business. As Harwood grows nationally, I’d like us to bring that same culture and connection into our other locations. It won’t look the same everywhere, but the principles can absolutely carry across the business.”

Growing Through People

People development sits at the heart of Richard’s view of sustainable growth.

Richard also sees an opportunity to support people entering building control earlier in their careers. He acknowledges the limited pool of experienced building control professionals. He sees real potential in developing the next generation by bringing in trainees who want to build a career in the sector.

What Success Looks Like

For Richard, success starts with the people already within the business.

“Initially, it’s about looking after and retaining the people we already have, making sure new starters are properly embedded and creating a really strong foundation for the next stage of growth.

“On a personal level, I want to establish myself as someone David and Ben trust, but just as importantly, someone the wider team trusts.

“We can talk about growth and bring new clients into the business, but unless you’ve got good people delivering a really good service, there is no business.

“So, for me, success is about helping Harwood grow while looking after the people who make that growth possible.”