Despite the impact of the recession, family-owned construction firm Beard, has reported strong sales of £50 million and before tax profits of £850,000.

Beard, which has offices in Swindon, Oxford and Guildford, says the results are due to several contract wins.

These include work at Urology Department of the Royal United Hospital in Bath, a new salt depot for Wiltshire Council and a two-storey administration block at Downe House School in Thatcham.

These have strengthened its financial standing with shareholder funds of £4.3m and cash balances of £5.1m at the close of 2009.

Clive Bassett, Beard’s financial director, said: “It is extremely pleasing to publish another solid set of financial results.

“While turnover was down from the record £56m in 2008, we have restricted the impact of the financial meltdown, successfully delivering projects that exceed our customers’ exacting demands in spite of the economic backdrop. Consistent success in project delivery coupled with a strong customer base has given us a significant volume of repeat business.

“Our involvement on several key frameworks such as the Construction Framework South West along with the expansion of our operations into the Guildford area have lessened the impact of fewer construction projects.

“Beard will continue to deliver the excellence required by our clients and is further developing its strengths into the first sectors to recover from the recession. This should help us minimise the impact of the reduction in public funded projects as the new Government makes the necessary corrections to public expenditure.”

Only a couple of weeks ago Beard confirmed its order book topped the £6.5m mark.

The company – which is more than 100 years old and has built thousands of homes in Swindon – has secured a range of new contracts across the region including initial contracts under a new agreement with Aspire Defence Services, where Beard is a preferred supplier.

One is to refurbish and re-model the officers’ mess at Tidworth and a second involving the construction of new offices for the MoD in Aldershot.

Construction director Marc Bayley said: “Conditions are clearly still difficult but the start to the year has been better than expected.

“We see good opportunities in a number of sectors with the housing and commercial areas moving in the right direction.

“This will hopefully help fuel a sustainable recovery.

“The growing number of enquiries is encouraging and highlights that our customers see the business’s underlying strength and resilience – coupled with consistently delivering – as a winning formula.”

Beard has an annual turnover of about £56m and focuses on education, healthcare, care home, commercial, leisure and defence.

The company was established in 1892 and employs 168 people.