IPSWICH-BASED Barnes Construction has promoted Mark Bailey to associate director.Mr Bailey joined the firm as a trainee in 1982, and spent time gaining a broad experience of the industry in different departments before joining the contracts team.

IPSWICH-BASED Barnes Construction has promoted Mark Bailey to associate director.

Mr Bailey joined the firm as a trainee in 1982, and spent time gaining a broad experience of the industry in different departments before joining the contracts team.

Starting as a junior member of the team, he worked his way up through the ranks to become site manager, contracts manager, then senior contracts manager. He recently took the lead role on some of the company's largest contracts.

He has become a key adviser to clients on getting best value from their projects and helping them to solve problems as they emerge.

In his new role he will be responsible for overseeing the firm's contracts and relationships within the education sector, including those awarded through the Suffolk County Council Framework Agreement.

Barnes Construction managing director Nick Fayers said: “The emphasis that Barnes Construction places on its trainee development programme is evidenced by Mark becoming the second member of the firm to progress all the way from trainee to the senior management team in a business that is less than 30 years old.”