Looking at the numbers alone - 28 projects across our design and construction teams - doesn't quite capture the full story, but it's a good place to start.

From Newcastle-under-Lyme to Cambridge to Glasgow, our design work took us out of Staffordshire and across the country last year.

Each of the 16 design projects our design studio worked on represented a family, business, or church planning their future, whether that was the heritage-sensitive renovations and extension at Acorn Cottage in Staffordshire, the eco new-build at Pippins in Colchester, the community hub at The Fellowship Village, or the careful extension planning for Willow Barn. Every planning submission felt like a small victory, knowing we'd helped another client move closer to their dream home, or their dream space.

On the construction side of things, the variety definitely kept us on our toes last year! One month we'd be installing an underground cinema at Ashbourne Retreat (complete with gym, pool, and sauna), the next we'd be creating an accessible bathroom at Roseville or replacing a roof at South View.

Our construction team work so hard all year round, throughout all types of weather, to keep our projects on-track.

Project Winchester became our surprise star of the year, evolving from a simple kitchen extension brief into a complete bungalow transformation with those stunning vaulted ceilings! We handed the keys back to the happy owners in December, just in time for Christmas.

Our personal favourite project of the year has to be Ashbourne Retreat, for lots of reasons! This project involved so many different elements, and colloboration with lots of different experts - from the leisure facilities, landscaping, cinema technology and glazing - it was a real labour of love, and turned out wonderfully!

This year, we also welcomed five student placements through what's becoming The Powell Academy (our internal training program). We said hello to; Laura, Lottie, Daisy, Carson, and Lucas.

Watching Laura, our summer student placement, get shortlisted for Young Architect of the Year at the Building the Future Awards was a particular highlight. It proves that these aren't just 'work experience kids' making cups of tea; they're contributing real ideas to real projects, and their fresh perspective keeps challenging how we do things.

A special mention also goes to Finlay, who graduated from Staffordshire University this summer with a First-Class Honours degree in Architecture. Finlay was actually one of Alexandra's third-year students, and he's been juggling studies with work at PDC for the past year. Watching him graduate was a genuinely proud moment for the whole team. From student placement to qualified architectural assistant - what a journey!

Speaking of recognition, Alexandra was nominated for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and, as a company, we made the FMB Award shortlist for the Team Culture Award, which caught us completely off guard! We don't chase awards, but when your peers recognise your work, it really does mean something to us.

The community work matters too. Alexandra also made time to speak at four schools and universities in 2025, sharing her journey and hopefully inspiring the next generation to consider construction, business, or design careers.

Whether it was by speaking at the schools, or contributing to discussions about ADHD in the workplace on the Beespace Podcast, as a company, we're actively trying to be part of something bigger than just our projects and work.

Running a business isn't just about money and pipeline, it's also about contributing to your community and industry too – and we tried hard to do that in 2025.

Behind all of this though is a team that somehow manages to keep everything moving. From our core crew who've been with us for years to new faces bringing fresh energy, everyone played their part last year.

Looking at this year in review, what strikes us most is the trust our clients place in us. Every one of those 28 projects represents someone handing over their vision, their budget, and often their stress, believing we'll deliver something special.

And juggling these 28 projects means constant plate-spinning, making sure quality never drops even when things get hectic. Materials costs continued their unpredictable dance, and planning departments tested our patience. But that's the nature of this industry - you adapt, you problem-solve, you keep moving forward.

As we look ahead to 2026, there's something big on the horizon for Powell Design & Construction. We can't share details yet, but it represents a significant shift in how we'll operate going forward. After a year like 2025, we should probably be looking for a quieter 2025, but that's never been our style!

To everyone who's been part of our 2025 - our clients who trusted us with their homes and businesses, our team who delivered excellence, our trade partners who maintained quality under pressure, and our community who cheered us on, thank you.

Whether you were living through a renovation with us, following along on social media, or somewhere in between, you've been part of this journey.

Twenty-eight projects. Sixteen designs. Sixteen builds. Countless cups of tea, site meetings, problem-solving sessions, and moments of satisfaction when it all comes together. That was our 2025.

Here's to whatever 2026 brings. Something tells us it's going to be even bigger.

Alexandra & Richard Powell

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