Blackburn will remain as group director until the end of May to support his successor Michael Sims who is being promoted from his current role as Commercial Director.

Blackburn said: “Over the last 20 years I’ve been extremely proud to lead a business that has delivered in excess of 7,000 student beds, 1,500 apartments, 1,000 care home beds, 750 hotel bedrooms and more than one million square feet of industrial schemes.

“Projects have included new builds, refurbishments, re-cladding & extensions, providing education facilities for primary, secondary, further, higher and vocational training, advanced manufacturing centres, research and development labs, offices, distribution, storage, libraries, leisure facilities, hotels, residential developments, community centres, places of worship, sports facilities, retail buildings, archives, courtrooms, the odd glulam replacement here and there, a raft ride, a cable-ski and even a crematorium.

“I am pleased to be handing over the business with a record level of carry forward workload and I congratulate Michael on his new role as Managing Director and wish him, and the other Directors, all the best for the future.”

Sims said: “I am proud to have been appointed to follow in his footsteps and take up the reins as the new MD for a company that is so well regarded and has such a long history.

“Alongside the other Directors, I look forward to building on Simon Blackburn’s legacy and continuing to provide design and construction excellence to our clients across the country.”

Darren Chapman and Ross Crowcroft will continue in their roles as Operations Director and Pre-Construction Director respectively.

Blackburn was one of three main shareholders who sold a a majority 51% stake in the business to an employee ownership trust in 2021.