Following the survival of last week's spectacular summer heatwave, the team swapped their desks for the harbourside on Friday evening for our official team Appreciation Night.
We gathered at the historic Great Western Dockyard, and the Board Walk absolutely delivered. With outstanding food, ice-cold drinks, and brilliant vibes, it was the perfect setting to raise a glass to our team.
The turnout was brilliant, drawing together everyone from across the business. While the sensible among us headed home after dinner to enjoy a peaceful weekend, a special mention must go to our unofficial "After-Party Committee" who took the phrase "just one quick drink" and turned it into a full-blown midnight tour of Bristol's pubs.
Whether they were part of the late-night tour or heading home early, every single person earned this celebration.
A massive thank you to our incredible team for their relentless hard work, brilliant energy, and for making this a great social event.
We are delighted to announce that the Yatton Infant School project has officially achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating!
As the main contractor on this fantastic project, our goal went far beyond constructing a modern learning space. We were determined to deliver a highly sustainable, eco-friendly environment that will inspire pupils and serve the local community for generations to come.
Achieving this rating is no small feat. BREEAM is the world's leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for a sustainable built environment. An 'Excellent' rating places Yatton Infant School in the top tier of green buildings, recognizing its outstanding performance in areas such as:
This milestone represents a massive collaborative effort. We want to extend a huge thank you to our incredible project team, dedicated supply chain, partners, and the entire school community. Your shared vision and hard work made this achievement possible.
"We are incredibly proud to hand over a school that is as kind to the planet as it is inspiring for its young learners."
Grant Jefferies | Managing Director
Members of our team recently had the immense privilege of visiting New Fosseway School in South Bristol. We spent an incredible day collaborating with a group of talented young people, focusing on developing their interview and employability skills as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
Preparing for the working world is a massive milestone for any young person. However, traditional interview structures can often feel rigid and limiting—especially for students with diverse learning needs. Our goal for the day was simple: strip away the stress and focus on what truly matters.
Rather than sticking to standard question-and-answer formats, our team worked closely with the students to create an inclusive, supportive environment. Together, we focused on:
The energy, confidence, and talent we witnessed throughout the day absolutely blew our team away.
An initiative like this thrives on partnership. We want to extend a massive thank you to Bristol Works and the brilliant, dedicated staff at New Fosseway School for welcoming us so warmly into their classrooms.
"Working with such a dedicated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision is hands-down the most rewarding part of what we do. The future workforce of South Bristol is full of untapped potential, and we are incredibly proud to play a small part in these students' journeys."
Grant Jefferies | Managing Director
When we wrapped up our workshop-to-office conversion back in 2013, we knew we had created something special. However, a truly great workplace must evolve alongside the people who use it.
To meet the changing expectations of the modern working environment, we have gone back to our roots. We teamed up with the original architects of our office, Nash Partnership, to develop an exciting new vision for our external space.
We are transforming an underutilised outdoor footprint into a dynamic, multi-use space just in time for the summer months. By blending natural fibres, tensile shading, and a bespoke timber pergola with considered landscaping and contemporary furniture from Furniture23 Limited, we are creating an environment where productivity meets well-being.
The sun was out and the site was a hive of activity last week as our team dropped in to see Filwood Community Centre’s sustainable transformation taking shape.
The heart of the progress lies in three new extensions crafted from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). This is a vital step in the project's decarbonisation strategy. Using timber instead of traditional materials significantly lowers embodied carbon, while the precision of CLT allows for a faster, quieter build with a substantial reduction in on-site waste. It is also an incredibly safe construction method, as the dense panels are naturally fire-resistant, charring to maintain their structural integrity.
We are also significantly improving the building's thermal performance. The newly installed windows in the front extension, featuring distinctive and cheerful coloured surrounds, bring a vibrant energy to the façade while doing some heavy lifting behind the scenes. With a high-spec 0.8 U-value, they are designed to lock in heat, ensuring the facility stays warm and cost-effective.
To power this green vision, we have integrated PV solar panels across the roof to harness clean, renewable energy. By generating power on-site, we are reducing the building’s carbon footprint and ensuring its long-term financial and environmental sustainability.
Ultimately, this project is about creating a modern, future-proofed hub that the Filwood community can truly be proud of. We look forward to sharing more updates as we continue to bring this sustainable vision to life.
Three decades ago, Daniel walked into our joinery mill as an eager young apprentice. Today, he stands as a vital pillar of our operations team leading some of our most significant, complex projects.
To truly put Daniel’s incredible 30-year journey into perspective, let’s take a quick trip back to where it all began in 1996.
A Quick Trip Back to 1996
Back then, John Major was Prime Minister, and the average UK house cost just £53k, which is about a fifth of what it is today. In tech news, Hotmail was just launching a revolutionary new thing called “free email.” While only 16% of UK households owned a mobile phone, coincidentally, the iconic Motorola flip phone had just gone on sale.
It was a rollercoaster year for pop culture and sport, too. Take That broke hearts by announcing their split, and football almost came home until it didn’t and England was knocked out of the Euro 96 semi-finals. We can’t help but wonder if England will finally do it this time on Daniel’s big anniversary year – come on England!
While NASA was busy launching the Endeavour space Shuttle, Daniel was kick-starting his own career right here on the ground. Back then, there was no WhatsApping the team or pulling up digital drawings on an iPad. If you needed a Site Manager, you had to shout across the scaffolding!
A Trip Down Memory Lane
We have dug into the archives and unearthed a few absolute gems from Daniels three decades with us.
Scroll through the gallery below to catch a glimpse of the old-school company football match, the famous Friday Morning “Wake and Shake” routine at Castle Mead Primary School, and various Christmas jumper days, Movember efforts, and our 125th anniversary party. Of course, you will also find plenty of photos of Daniel hard at work on-site through the years!
Evolution, Leadership and Legacy
Over the last 30 years, Daniel has watched both the British property landscape and construction technology completely transform. He has gone from mastering the basics as a young apprentice to leading some of our most prestigious, multi-million-pound projects.
But his impact goes far beyond the structures he builds. Today, Daniel is actively mentoring the next generation of apprentices who are now following in his exact footsteps.
“Daniel, thank you for your loyalty, expertise and for being such an absolute gem within our team and to the next generation you continue to support. You are a true Bray & Slaughter legend!”
- Grant Jefferies – Managing Director
We are proud to announce that our refurbishment project at 57, 67/69 & 73 High Street has been honoured with a Civic Society Award.
On behalf of our Client North Somerset Council and supported by the Levelling Up Fund, we transformed these units from a state of disrepair into high-performing, modern spaces. By focusing on urban renewal and commercial growth, we successfully delivered on three key fronts:
Decarbonisation: High-spec “green refurbs” that significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Accessibility: Fully inclusive design, ensuring all units are now 100% wheelchair accessible;
Aesthetic restoration: Revitalised shopfronts that breathe new life into this local High Street.
This award is a fantastic recognition of our commitment to sustainable development and making this town centre a better place for everyone to shop and do business.
Grant Jefferies commented “We were able to overcome the constraints of a densely occupied High Street, designing and building with care to deliver these high-quality units for lease, it’s great to see a number of them are already trading and adding diversity to the high street”.
Using surplus bricks and reclaimed timber, pupils teamed up with our site team to turn their own designs into a multi-storey habitat that supports local biodiversity.
Building foundations is about more than concrete, it’s about community. We were delighted to return to Yatton Primary School to support Year 5 pupils with a hands-on construction activity: creating a bespoke, multi-storey bug hotel.
The project was designed to be practical and sustainable. We used surplus bricks from our recently completed works at the Yatton Infant School site, alongside reclaimed timber offcuts provided by our supply chain partner, Edgewood Joinery. This gave pupils the chance to see how leftover materials can be repurposed to reduce waste and support nature.
Working from the children’s original designs, pupils collaborated with our team to safely assemble their structure. Whether they were complete beginners or had tried DIY at home, everyone got involved and quickly built confidence with the task.
“This is so cool, I didn’t think I would be doing something like this in Year 5!” — Year 5 pupil
This is a great example of social value in action, with pupils exploring STEM skills through practical construction. A huge well done to the Year 5 team we look forward to hearing about the wildlife that checks in to this very plush 5-star bug hotel. The future of sustainable construction is in safe hands.
