Current News

New office in Haslemere, Surrey

Towards the end of last year R.W. Armstrong & Sons opened a second office in Haslemere, Surrey.  This was due to the increasing demand for our services beyond our Hampshire base, and will enable our company to offer clients and architects in Surrey and West Sussex a local and economic solution to their building needs.

Headed up by Stuart Pearson, the strong management team already in-situ includes Stuart’s assistant Ben Walpole, surveyor Adam Westbury and new QS Bob Brimfield.  New skilled craftsmen local to the area are being recruited to complement our current experienced staff.  The team at Haslemere are already working on six large contracts in the area.

(25th January 2008)

Senior Contracts Manager proving a great asset

R.W. Armstrong & Sons welcomed Ian White to the management team in July last year as Senior Contracts Manager.  In addition to managing one of our largest projects to date, Ian is assisting director Simon Lewis with contract operations.  These include the establishment of new systems and controls as we move into 2008 with a substantial number of high value projects in hand and an ever increasing demand for our unique services.

Ian was keen to join a building firm dealing with a more specialist market, following six years with civil engineering and building firm Dyer & Butler, and 10 years with the established family firm Brazier Construction.  One of his most rewarding previous projects was the completion, on time, of the 300 seat Tricycle Cinema in North London, despite a very confined site.  

(21st January 2008)

Site Manager wins CIOB Gold Medal

The R.W. Armstrong & Sons site manager, Dean Ludlow, recently won the Gold Medal for the inaugural Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Site Management Award Scheme.

Building companies were invited to nominate employees for this national competition for site managers completing the CIOB National Diploma in Site Management (Level 4), which Dean had completed this summer.  Nominees had to send in their CVs, then if selected make a formal presentation and undertake a challenging interview with Fellowship Members of the Institute.  
 
Dean joined R.W. Armstrong & Sons 12 years ago, and has been a site manager for the last seven.  Managing teams of up to 25 people at a time he particularly enjoys the challenge and pressure his job involves. 

“I was thrilled to achieve this Award.  I have only had one interview in my life when I first joined Armstrong’s, so the selection process was challenging but proved a great experience, and this is the first time I’ve won anything!,” said Dean Ludlow.

Simon Lewis, director of R.W. Armstrong & Sons, said:  “Dean is a dedicated, conscientious and key member of our team of 170 staff.  He thoroughly deserved to win this Award and we are very proud of his achievement.”

(21st November 2007)      

New Joinery Workshop in Farnham

The new R.W. Armstrong & Sons joinery workshop, based in Dippenhall near Farnham, is now fully up and running.  The workshop was formerly F & L Warren, a specialist company established by Fred Warren, undertaking bespoke period panelling and built-in furniture.

Although Fred has now retired we have retained six long standing, skilled and loyal employees, adding new skills to our joinery services including French polishing and lathe turning.  Our joinery department will benefit from the expertise these employees can bring, and from the increased control we have in producing in-house joinery rather than having to outsource to subcontractors.

Our current joinery manager, Geoff Squibb, will also manage this joinery workshop.  To see previous examples of the joinery made by the workshop click here.

(31st October 2007)

Extension for School

The construction of a single storey extension for a local school in a period building has recently started in liaison with Design Engine.  Whilst Armstrong's don't often have contracts with schools, the funds to build this extension were kindly donated by a long-standing client of the company who was keen for Armstrong's to undertake the project.   

(22nd October 2007)

Record number of new contracts

2007 has so far seen a record number of new projects started, several of which are multi-million pound contracts.

Well underway is a complete interior refurbishment, including an intelligent building system and ground water heating system, for a substantial Grade II listed riverside home built in the early 1900s.  Another project started earlier in the year is the significant restoration of a manor house, which includes major underpinning to the main house and extensions on both sides.

More recent contracts include an internal refurbishment to an 18th Century country house, with new oak, stone and parquet floors being laid as well as new bathrooms and kitchens installed, and a new brick and stone indoor pool with spa planned.  In addition, extensive renovations and east and west wing two-storey extensions to provide additional accommodation for a three-storey house built around 1750 has just started.   

(August 2007)

Ben returns as Assistant Contracts Manager

Ben Walpole joined R.W. Armstrong & Sons in June as Assistant Contracts Manager, having previously spent a year with us before going to university.  Ben is studying for a BSc (Hons) in Construction Management at the University of Western England in Bristol.  He is taking his 'final year' over two years so he can gain valuable work experience working with us four days a week.

(30th July 2007)

Fun evening to celebrate 50th

A fun evening was had by all the staff during our dinner and evening's racing at Newbury in June to celebrate 50 years since R.W. Armstrong & Sons was founded.  Several long serving staff were presented with watches and vouchers, with eight members of staff having been with the company for over 15 years, five for over 25 years, and one, groundworker, Gordon Lane, has been with us for 40 years.

(20th July 2007)

Wimbledon players in the making

In the run up to Wimbledon, this year’s R.W. Armstrong & Sons ‘Yogi Bear Tennis Shield’ took place at Manydown Tennis Club in Hampshire.

The day was a mixture of groundstrokes and overheads, hard work and fun, and inevitably wins and losses, as pupils from Years 1 and 2 of five local junior schools battled it out on the tennis court.

The Yogi Bear Shield is the accumulation of six months of tennis coaching and matches. Britain’s top tennis players regard it, as the most comprehensive Mini Tennis Programme in the county.  The programme, organised by Manydown Tennis and sponsored by R. W. Armstrong and Sons, ensures that each year over 1500 children in local junior schools get the best coaching and match play experience.  

This year, the fourth in the Shield’s history, saw Cheam School aiming to retain the Title. There to challenge were Thorngrove, North Waltham, The Priory and Home Farm schools. Each team had four eager children, ready to do their bit for their school.

Using a round robin format each team had to play every other school participating.  The outcome of the afternoon was decided in the final match. The Priory came through to beat Thorngrove and therefore take the Title, with North Waltham coming second and Cheam coming third. The Award ceremony was accompanied by afternoon tea and twenty smiling children, who enjoyed the tournament, win or lose.

(6th June 2007)

50th Anniversary Celebrations

Newbury Racecourse will play centre stage to not only X-factor stars Ray Quinn and Journey South, but all the staff from R.W. Armstrong & Sons this weekend.

May 2007 marks the 50th anniversary since R.W. Armstrong & Sons was founded by Roy Armstrong with just one other labourer and his wife, Vera, in their office/dining room.  Three years later his sons, Brian and Colin, finished their apprenticeships and joined him as directors in the company.    

Today the company has a directly employed workforce of over 150 led by Roy’s grandson, Nigel, a large office and joinery workshop, various multi-million pound projects on the books, and an increasing list of prestigious architects regularly supplying contracts.

Every individual within the company has contributed to the legacy of experience and high reputation in which R.W. Armstrong & Sons is held.  To thank all our staff we are holding a dinner during racing at Newbury on 9th June, which promises to be a memorable celebration of this significant milestone.  

(3rd June 2007)

Shortlisted for Builders Awards

We were recently proud to reach the shortlist of six for ‘Contractor of the Year’ at the annual Building Awards, the biggest construction industry event of the year. The extremely sought after Building Awards are all about rewarding best practice, innovation and excellence. 

(30th April 2007)

50th Anniversary for RW Armstrong & Sons

In May 2007 we will be celebrating 50 years since the company was started by Roy Armstrong, grandfather of the current managing director Nigel Armstrong.  A significant milestone in the company's history.

(26th February 2007) 

Various new contracts underway

A host of new contracts are now well underway.  These include two internal refurbishments for previous clients, including the Heineken family and a client we are returning to for the fourth time.

Also several first floor extensions are taking shape for a number of large country houses.

(13th February 2007) 

Celebrations all round

A two and half year project to undertake extensive renovations to a large 1880's listed building, and to build a significant extension replacing the demolished north service wing, was finished late last year.  The end result is a delighted client who kindly threw a 'completion party' for all the Armstrong employees who had worked on the project.

Works has now started on phase three to construct the pool pavilion and a garage, and to renovate the Gate Lodge.

(23rd January 2007)

Football Champions

The company football team, Armstrong's FC, continue to be a formidable force in the five-a-side Basingstoke Power League finishing the season as Champions of Division 1.  A fantastic achievement considering it was our first season in Division 1, and only our second season in the League.

(15th December 2006)

Happy New Year

This year saw many of Armstrong's substantial long term contracts completed successfully, and to our usual high standard.  Various new contracts have recently started and some major contracts are in the pipeline for next year.

2007 will mark 50 years since the company was founded, a significant milestone in our history.  We would like to thank all our clients for their continued support in using and recommending R.W. Armstrong & Sons, without which we would not be where we are today.

May we take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

(13th December 2006)

34th fastest growing company in the Thames Valley

In a recent report from BDO Stoy Hayward on the Thames Valley's fastest growing private, independent companies, R.W. Armstrong & Sons came 34th, having come 30th in 2004. 

In addition to having positive growth between 2004 and 2005 the survey took account of consistent growth over the previous five-year period as a whole.  Another significant achievement for the company.

(11th December 2006)

New contract to undertake a significant restoration

After being left empty for many years R.W. Armstrong & Sons is carrying out a significant restoration of a manor house in Hampshire.  Originally built in Victorian times, the house was dismantled and rebuilt in the 1940's by the owner to make the master bedroom and drawing room south facing when his wife complained at the lack of sun!

In liaison with Ian Adam-Smith Architects the works include major underpinning to the main house, extensions on both sides with piling on one end due to difficult ground conditions, replacement of windows, and restoration of many of the original features.  Internally, rooms will be reconfigured, floors reinforced, and a complete joinery fit out and decoration works undertaken.

(15th November 2006)

New Contracts Manager

R.W. Armstrong & Sons recently welcomed another contracts manager to their growing management team.

Chris Moore joined the team after 15 years with building and joinery fit out contractor, Swift Southern, where his notable projects included works at Heathrow Terminal 5, the Madjeski Academy and Broadmoor Hospital.

MCIOB qualified, Chris is looking forward to managing complete building works on prestigious homes.

(23rd October 2006)