Rochdale entrepreneur wins national industry accolade

L-R Alan Gregory from Independent Air Quality Consultancy Services presenting the Outstanding Service award to Steve Marsh, executive chairman of BES and event host, comedian Darren Harriot

Businessman, Steve Marsh, executive chairman and one of the founders of Rochdale based BES Ltd – specialist design consultants and contractors - has received the BESA Outstanding Service of the Year Award 2023. It is one of the highest accolades presented by BESA, the Building Engineering Services Association, at its annual award ceremony.

This award acknowledges a BESA member who has shown outstanding commitment and dedication to the building engineering services community. A key player in the building services industry for over 35 years, Steve has proven to be an inspirational leader with a passion for caring and developing others. Since starting as an apprentice, qualifying as a building services engineer from the University of Central Lancashire, Steve has always believed in the value of a supportive culture and instilled this in his own business ethos.

BES’s new headquarters are at Sandbrook Business Park in Rochdale and BES has grown from 6 staff, 20 years ago, to 187 staff today. Steve has always been keen to develop young talent too and is highly supportive of local Hopwood Hall College providing T-level construction apprentice placements, leading to permanent employment. Steve’s passion for developing both new and existing staff through an effective collaborative culture is as strong today as the day he began. In 2017 Steve also led the acquisition of Stockport partitioning company, Norwood, and has been instrumental in its significant transformation. Equally important has been his drive to bolster local community charities including Springhill Hospice, Cash for Kids, Lifeshare and local food banks and environmental projects.

Steve said: “It really is an honour to receive this prestigious company service award, particularly as it’s recognition from my industry peers and colleagues at BESA. I’m proud to have worked on the delivery of innovative pharmaceutical, biotech, life science and healthcare facilities throughout my career. Complex and challenging projects, but also hugely rewarding in accelerating the availability of lifesaving and life changing drugs, medicines, and technologies to market.

“However, it always comes back to one thing and that’s the people we work with – it can be seen as a cliché, but success really is all about the team around you and valuing and respecting teamwork in the widest sense of the word.”