David Hardy, who has spearheaded the development of the Considerate Constructors Scheme from its earliest days, has been honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for service to the construction industry.

From a simple start in a spare bedroom in Hertfordshire, David has taken the Scheme concept forward over the last twelve years to become a central feature of the British construction industry. In doing so, the Scheme has transformed the image of the industry and attracted international interest in its astonishing success.

The Scheme was originally started in 1997 and run by the Chartered Institute of Building before David took over the management of it in 1998. At the time the Scheme had monitored approximately 500 construction sites in two years and was registering around 20 new sites a month. David took the role of Chairman until 2005, followed by Chief Executive until 2008.

As a result of David’s continuing efforts, many clients including local authorities and government bodies now insist on registration with the Scheme by their constructors, and the Scheme has been consistently endorsed by governments.  

Testament to the success of the Scheme has been the international interest in setting up similar organisations in other countries.  To date David has met with delegates from the Netherlands, Australia, the USA, Switzerland and Italy, all who have seen the Scheme as something from which their own country’s industries could benefit.

Today the Scheme registers some 10,000 sites a year and employs over 25 staff in its offices in Ware, Hertfordshire. It is now run by David’s son Edward with David’s other son Matthew also involved in the business.

About David Hardy
David’s work as the driving force behind the Considerate Constructors Scheme caps more than 50 years service as a professional in the UK construction industry. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, he is also an Associate of the British Institute of Management and member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He was also Chairman of the National Federation of Builders London Associations from 1997-1998.

David began his career in the construction industry as an indentured student surveyor and estimator aged sixteen and shows no signs of stopping despite reaching his seventy-second year.  His 56 years in the industry have included major surveying projects in Nigeria. A qualified estimator, his career developed to become a main board Director of  North London construction company, CP Roberts Ltd, followed by a further 13 years as Managing Director of Firmco Ltd, a construction company based in East London. He enjoyed a short-lived retirement in 1997/8 before taking over the Considerate Constructors Scheme.

David is an active participant in fund-raising for his local church and charities. He is also busy in his local community, chairing a village society that deals with local environmental, conservation and historical issues. He is the former Chair of his local Parish Hall, an active member of Rotary International (Amwell) and has previously been a parish councillor and school governor as well as forming a local social share dealing group.