Preston City Council praise Conlon Construction

Preston City Council is delighted at the recent news of Preston based Conlon Construction becoming an employee-owned business.

The news broke this month with the Preston based company moving from family ownership to an Employee-Ownership Trust (EOT), aligning with the Council's long-term vision of community wealth building. Conlon are the lead contractor for the £16million revival of the grade I listed building, The Harris.

Preston City Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building said:

"As part of the council's Community Wealth Building agenda we want our communities to benefit from the economic regeneration we are delivering.

Conlon Construction as lead contractor for the £16million Harris Museum upgrade have aligned with our values strongly by showing their commitment to use local supply chains and deliver new local jobs alongside a strong social value ethos"

Conlon Constructions were also successful at the recent North West Regional Construction Awards winning the Environmental, Social and Governance Award for its work on the Harris in Preston, as well as the SME of the Year award.

Conlon's Employee-Ownership Trust (EOT) adopts similar principles to worker owned businesses championed by Preston City Council. In doing so, Conlon expand the local democratic economy joining Preston's other worker owned enterprises including  Mandala Centre for Yoga and Wellbeing Hub, Deeds Not Words, The Preston Digital Foundation and Brookfield Retrofit Plus.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council said:

"In Preston, we are committed to grow our social economy including promoting the benefits of worker and employee ownership. Businesses owned by their employees are often more resilient, productive, and fairer for both their workforce and local communities.

We are delighted Conlon Construction has taken this forward-thinking decision and wish their staff every success for the future."

Established in 1961, Conlon is deeply embedded within the city of Preston. Based only three miles away from The Harris, they were responsible for building the Preston Bypass, now known as the M6 motorway, and more recently were contracted by the Council to revive Preston Markets back in 2017. The rejuvenation of The Harris has already positively impacted the local community, with £5,553,042 spent within the local supply chain (within 30 miles) and 348 local people employed (from within 30 miles).

Chairman, Michael Conlon, said: 

"Our move to an Employee-Ownership Trust is undoubtedly a milestone for Conlon and a celebration of our deep roots and family heritage in Preston. By moving to employee ownership, we're safeguarding the legacy of the five founding Conlon brothers, who built this company on the principles of community, integrity, and putting people first. This transition ensures the same culture and values will continue to thrive for generations to come.

"Throughout The Harris project, we have diligently worked to principles set out by our client, including the Preston Model. Such principles align strongly with our own deeply rooted ethos, which has made hitting targets far easier than, say, by a national contractor, as this is how we always work.

"We've proudly upheld our Preston Model commitments, spending in excess of £5.5m with local suppliers and employing 348 local people to date on The Harris refurbishment. Together, this contributes to the council's targets to Community Wealth Building in the city of Preston.

"Our EOT model further bolsters these targets, all while safeguarding the Conlon family legacy. It also ensures every project we deliver leaves a lasting legacy for the community it serves."

The Harris is set to reopen its doors in 2025 with visitors being able to engage with the collections in a new way, not only in traditional galleries but also woven into other public areas such as cafes and activity areas. The Harris' ambition is to be a focal point for creativity and making, information and learning in spaces that celebrate heritage and promote wellbeing.