Beacon Partnership

About us

Steve Beard

Partner

Steve Beard

Steve's Biography

Steve has almost 25 years’ experience in housing and development. After graduating in Business Economics, he held various roles in development at Rosebery, L&Q and Family Housing before moving into consultancy. Recent clients have included the GLA, NHF, LSH, Optivo, Southern, Lewisham Council and Camden Council plus many smaller associations and cooperatives.

Initially, Steve worked in project delivery. This included delivering many small and medium sized sites, in addition to a £9m SRB project in Woolwich plus a £12m regeneration project in Shadwell, Tower Hamlets.

Steve now specialises in financial modelling. He has developed bespoke models for many Housing Associations, JVs, housing delivery companies and the business plans of smaller RPs. In addition, Steve’s recent modelling work has been used to help the GLA set the grant rates that are currently in use.

Dave Markham

Partner

Dave Markham

Dave's Biography

Dave is a motivational leader with over 26 years of experience at director level in development, regeneration, asset management and repairs, working in both Housing Associations and Local Authorities.

Dave has built and managed large teams and led in the successful delivery of large scale development and regeneration programmes, PFI, large scale tenant led transfers, stock disposals, mergers, acquisitions, major estate regeneration projects, area renewal, major works and decent homes delivery programmes, repair programmes and partnership frameworks.

From a surveying background Dave also brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in construction, contracts, procurement and contract management.

During his career Dave has consistently implemented and managed successful change whilst always building and maintaining excellent working relationships.

Phil Purkiss

Partner

Phil Purkiss

Phil's Biography

Phil has worked in social housing for 18 years and has extensive knowledge and experience in delivering a wide range of development services and schemes of all shapes and sizes. Phil has worked at various levels from project officer to director, and been involved in a number of development disciplines, including project management, new business, land buying, financial modelling, procurement, sales and management, strategic planning, staff management and training.

Phil’s speciality includes developing, building and maintaining Excel-based financial toolkits, viability modelling, options appraisals, and procurement. From 2011 to 2017 Phil was responsible for the development and maintenance of the podplan suite of toolkits.

Phil has worked as a consultant since 2011 for a range of Housing Association and Local Authority clients both in and outside London. Phil’s qualifications include a PG Dip in Management.

James Edge

Partner

James Edge

James's Biography

James has worked in social housing for 15 years. He has extensive experience in new business, land buying, construction project management, programme management, staff management and financial modelling. He has held senior management and consultancy roles in a number of G15 development teams. James has managed some of the largest grant funding programmes in the country and has an exhaustive knowledge of GLA / HE capital funding rules, rent setting and audit requirements.

In recent years he has specialised in development data management and business intelligence. He has worked within a number of large development and finance teams to improve accuracy and visibility of information about their programmes, embedding best practice and often working with clients to code bespoke tools in various programming languages.

James is the lead software developer for our Optimix suite of toolkits.

Richard Lake

Commercial Director
Richard Lake

Richard's Biography

Richard has worked at Beacon Partnership LLP since 2022 as our Commercial Director.

Beacon is an ambitious and experienced business, Richard is responsible for overseeing our direction and growth strategy that will support our ambitions, serve our existing clients better and expand our capability to support new clients.

Richard has previously held management roles in sales and financial environments and has brought forwards experience of financial models, deal structuring and commercial strategy to both Beacon and to clients.

Richard is responsible for managing Beacons reach in our key areas of skill and expertise and building our partnerships with governing and regulatory bodies.  Richard is happy to engage with potential partners and clients to understand the best way of working collaboratively – please do get in touch with him.

Rachel Askew

Head of Development Services
Rachel Askew

Rachel's Biography

Rachel is a Development Consultant who has worked in housing for over five years. Following an initial role on a housing graduate scheme, Rachel has held a variety of roles in the sector within development, asset management and major works for both Local Authorities and ALMOs.

Rachel is experienced in managing projects through the whole development process from feasibility to delivery, procurement, resident consultation, options appraisals and governance.

Iain Emmerson

Project Director

Iain-Emmerson

Iain's Biography

Iain has worked at Beacon since 2023 as Project Director and brings to Beacon an award winning track record and wealth of experience in Project and Development Management; he has delivered a number of complex projects across a mixed portfolio of housing, mix use schemes and community sports regeneration projects.

Iain has led multi-disciplinary technical teams, supported development and investment programmes in management roles and importantly has been ‘hands on’ across all RIBA stages from concept to post occupation.  Iain draws on this experience when adding value to our clients; his pragmatic, considered approach to delivering on development, programmes and projects, is borne from his experience of himself having worked and delivered through all stages of development.

Away from the office, Iain lives in Cambridgeshire and can be seen walking 2 chatty Bengal cats on their leads in the beautiful countryside.  Iain enjoys different types of photography and is also an avid music fan and keen gardener, gradually restoring a sizeable plot.  

Vince Hardwick

Optimix Manager
Vince Hardwick

Vince's Biography

Vince has worked as an application analyst and support consultant for over 5 years, previously in the legal and logistics sectors.

After being involved in extensive testing of our Optimix suite of toolkits as an external consultant for the last few years, Vince has joined the team as Optimix Manager to continue this work in greater scope and depth, and to support the continued quality, functionality and improvement of our modelling software offering.

Charlie Rogers

Accounts Manager
Charlie Rogers

Charlie's Biography

Charlie started his career as an accounts assistant at an IT support consultancy. He quickly progressed to become accounts manager, responsible for overseeing all financial operations of the business, equipping him with the organisational and financial skills required for his role at Beacon.

Charlie’s work at Beacon includes managing all financial aspects of the business as well as day-to-day operational support. Charlie works closely with the partners and consultants, ensuring smooth delivery of all projects.

Andy Rowland

Development Consultant
Andy Rowland

Andy's Biography

37 years working in housing management, building surveying and development has given me a wealth of experience. Having previously worked for a local authority and London based housing associations I have been a Board, Executive, Managing Director and Director level performer.

I continue to be a consummate leader, committed to empowering, equality and diversity. A true team player with strong relationships throughout the wider development industry.

Although I have had extensive exposure to complex, mixed tenure development projects, partnership working and the commerciality within cross funding models, I maintain an ardent belief in the social value and benefits of truly affordable housing.

In conclusion, many Londoners increasingly need good quality, subsidised rental homes and a role in meeting this objective remains my primary motivation.