GRAHAM WINSTONE, joint Managing Director – Operations
Graham has undertaken a number of management roles within the company and has achieved the position of Managing Director. He is the board member responsible for the estimating, design and surveying departments, and due to his ability to think both strategically as well as financially, he provides the interface from pre-construction to Darke & Taylor’s construction team.
Graham has a vast amount of industry experience, including hands on practical project delivery/contract management, estimating and MEP services design and engineering.
SIMON NEWTON, joint Managing Director – Commercial
Simon has worked for Darke & Taylor since 2000 and, upon completing his Masters in Business Administration (MBA), was appointed as Commercial Director when he became part of the team that undertook an MBO of the company in 2008. Simon is the director responsible for business strategy and innovation, for safety, health, quality and environmental management, for the finance, administration and HR department, and for undertaking work-in-progress reviews.
He is committed to the sustainable growth of the company, maintaining Darke & Taylor’s reputation for quality, employee development and training, and for ensuring that Darke & Taylor remains at the leading edge of the M&E sector by keeping technology and environmental awareness to the fore, enabling it to meet the ever-changing requirements of its clients.
JULIAN BUTLER, Director
Julian is a director and heads a successful team. He is responsible for Darke & Taylor’s Technical Services department (turning over approx. £6 million per annum) which includes: electrical services, fire & security systems, data & IT systems, preventative & reactive maintenance, and periodic test & inspections (EICR).
Julian has a proven track record in the growth and development of both existing and new start-up business – developing teams and embracing robust systems and processes. He has built vital relationships with key clients, providing them with engineering excellence and a first-class customer experience – all credit to his diverse background in the construction industry and leading roles within sales and marketing.
MARK SWADLING, Contracts Director
Mark’s knowledge of, and passion for, the construction industry are exemplary, as is his commitment to delivering projects on time and to the highest standards.
He has developed excellent relationships with many of Darke & Taylor’s key clients, becoming their first point of contact whenever a solution is required. Mark now oversees Darke & Taylor’s Contracting Department, reporting directly to the Managing Directors. He is responsible for ensuring all projects are delivered successfully, on time, and to the high standards expected of Darke & Taylor.
KEIRON RICHMOND, Contracts Director
Keiron has spent his entire career at Darke & Taylor, starting as an apprentice and progressing through the ranks before being appointed Contracts Director in 2018. He has overall responsibility for the company’s labour force, ensuring that Darke & Taylor’s Contract Engineering team has the resources required to successfully deliver its projects.
With extensive on-site experience and many years of expertise in project management, labour planning, material procurement, and the management of specialist subcontractors, Keiron has become a key member of the company’s senior leadership team. He is passionate about maintaining Darke & Taylor’s long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality installations and exceptional client satisfaction.
Keiron strongly believes in the development and training of Darke & Taylor’s workforce and plays a significant role in the company’s apprenticeship programme, helping to nurture the next generation of skilled engineers.
LUKE COOK, Associate Director
Luke has been with Darke & Taylor for many years, starting his journey as an apprentice. He progressed to a site-based testing engineer, before stepping into a management role. In this position, he managed the Test and Commissioning engineers, eventually transforming the team into the renowned Quality Assurance and Commissioning department it is today.
Luke continues to lead the Quality Assurance & Commissioning Team along with the Health & Safety Team at Darke & Taylor. He has been instrumental in the growth and development of both departments, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the industry. Luke holds a Tech IOSH certificate, showcasing his commitment to health and safety standards.
MARK FOX, Associate Director
Mark has worked for Darke & Taylor since starting as an apprentice. He then progressed to Site Foreman before becoming a Design Engineer. His excellent management skills led to his promotion to Contracts Manager, where he now leads our Commercial Team.
Mark manages the team of Quantity Surveyors and oversees our project payment processes, as well as our project (WIP) reviews. He ensures projects are delivered efficiently by coordinating the handover of information from estimators to project managers, managing variation tracking, overseeing monthly payment applications, conducting monthly financial project reviews, and negotiating final account agreements.
Mark demonstrates strong communication skills and has exceptional attention to detail.
LOUIS COOPER, Associate Director
Louis has worked for Darke & Taylor for 10 years and has spent his entire career in the industry. He heads the Technical Services Department, delivering projects for both main contractors and direct clients across testing, remedial works, call-outs, renewable technologies, and data installations.
Louis leads a team of Project Managers, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to the highest standard. In addition, he mentors new Project Managers to ensure consistency across the department and alignment with Darke & Taylor’s standards.
Louis demonstrates strong communication and people-focused skills by liaising with commercial and private clients, end users, Project Managers, and engineers. His attention to detail, commitment to quality, and focus on performance are fully aligned with the values of Darke & Taylor.
LEE WHITE, Associate Director
Lee has a wealth of experience in the electrical services industry and has been employed by Darke & Taylor since 2001.
Joining Darke & Taylor as an apprentice, Lee quickly proved himself to be responsible and hard-working, supervising projects on site from a young age. After completing his electrical training, he became a Foreman before progressing into the office, where he was promoted to Contracts Manager, reporting directly to our Contracts Directors.
As a Project Manager, Lee is the main point of contact for the projects he oversees and is responsible for the design and/or delivery of electrical services. He has successfully delivered projects across a wide range of sectors, including commercial, education, and high-end residential.
A vital member of the Project Management team, Lee has successfully delivered some of the most complex and time-critical projects undertaken by Darke & Taylor. More recently, Lee has taken on the role of Labour Manager, where he is responsible for allocating our site staff to the appropriate projects, ensuring work is completed efficiently and on schedule.
