The decision to open a new office follows Beard securing a place on the South West section of the £8.2bn Southern Construction Framework.

The exact office location has still to be determined but will open early next year. It will give Beard a base in the region from which to tender for framework contracts and prompts a regional director rejig.

The family-owned firm already has bases in Bristol, Guildford and Oxford, with a head office in Swindon.

Guildford director Pat Hughes will run the new south-coast base while new director Tom Jenkinson, who joined Beard in May after 20 years at Willmott Dixon, will take over running the Guildford office.

Jenkinson was previously director of Willmott Dixon’s Central South regional construction office.

In advance of the handover, Jenkinson will work closely with Hughes and Beard director Mike Hedges, who will oversee his transition to Guildford director and the launch of the new office.

Beard director Mike Hedges said: “This plan has been some 18 months in the making and is a significant decision for the company.

“The fact that Beard has been in existence for 130 years and has opened just three offices gives some indication of the financial prudence which drives our decision-making. That we are expanding when much of our sector is facing challenges also demonstrates the strength of our financial stability and confidence in the future.”