View the list of Dorset Club Members
ADP Architecture
BCP Council
Bennington Green
Bournemouth Property Association
C G Fry & Son
Hastoe Housing Association
Magna Housing
MC Plan & Site Services
Morgan Sindall
Reeves James
Rollalong
RPS Group
Space Industries
Stepnell
Thorpe Engineering Consultants
We will focus on all that is best about the Construction Industry and the diverse array of challenges that we face on a daily basis, with a particular emphasis on the talents and interesting projects that are occurring within Dorset.
The wider county of Dorset will continue to play a part in our programme and we will collaborate with neighbouring Clubs and aligned groups within our geographical area.
Latest Dorset Club news
August Overview – Robin Thorpe
Just a couple of weeks ago I was at the CESW awards in Bristol; yet again it was a great showcase of the interesting...
CESW Leadership Dinners Foster Critical Discussions Across South West England
Throughout June, Construction Excellence South West (CESW) has successfully convened a series of Leadership Dinners across...
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Dorset Club events
Meet the Dorset Club Committee
Richard Guppy BSc (Hons) MCIOB MAPM, Arcadis - Chair
Richard is a seasoned property and investment professional with over 25 years’ experience in the built environment, both in the UK and International spanning advisory, development, and delivery. As Director of Property & Investment at Arcadis, he leads strategic growth across the South and Southwest, working with both public and private sector clients to unlock value, drive regeneration, and create places where people and communities thrive.
Richard rejoined Arcadis after time at other leading global consultancies, where he advised major developers, institutions, and local authorities on large-scale investment and regeneration projects. He brings particular expertise in commercial, housing, mixed-use development, education, and enabling complex schemes through innovative funding, public-private partnerships, and master planning.
As Chair of Dorset Constructing Excellence, Richard is passionate about driving collaboration across the construction and property sectors with communities. He is committed to promoting innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth—ensuring that Dorset and the wider Southwest are well-positioned to deliver high-quality, future-ready places, and improve quality of life.
Rob Speirs, Stepnell - Vice Chair
Rob is a Main Board Director of Stepnell Ltd responsible for leading Stepnell’s Southern operations, managing teams at Southampton, Bristol & Poole.
He also leads Stepenergy as director within the group specialising in renewable energy design and installation across the UK
Robin Thorpe, Thorpe Engineering Consultants Ltd
Founding Director of Thorpe Engineering Consultants Ltd
- Chartered Civil Engineer
- ICE Health and Safety Registered
- Chair of Constructing Excellence Hampshire
- Board Member of Constructing Excellence in London and the South East Steering Group
Robin is passionate about collaboration and innovation and this is reflected in his position with the Constructing Excellence movement. Robin has developed expertise in the efficient use of timber, steel and concrete for building structures. Robin has experience in major residential and commercial buildings and now specialises in the structural transformation of existing buildings.
To me engineering is all about problem solving; it is fundamentally a creative discipline and often the best solutions come from working as part of a team. There is always more than one solution to a problem and the right solution is the one that adds most value to the project.
Engineering is the application of maths and science to shape the built environment. Too often engineers focus on the maths and overlook the context within which the structural elements are being deployed. The maths is generally the easy part; it is in the application that engineers can use creative solutions to add value.
Chris Reeves, Steele Raymond
Solicitor and Chartered Builder (FCIOB)
Member of RIBA Adjudication Panel
Member of RICS LVD panel
Member of the Technology and Construction Court Solicitors’ Association
Trade background
Westminster All Parliamentary Group on ADR – speaker on construction sector
Specialties:
Solicitor and Mediator
Construction dispute resolution
Dual qualified FCIOB FCIArb
ADR Group and RICS Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator
CIArb and CIOB Accredited in Adjudication
Reported cases:
Wilson and Sharp Investments Ltd v Harbour View Developments Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 1030 (13 October 2015) Court of Appeal: Absence of pay less notices and contractor insolvency
Dixon & Anor v Radley House Partnership (A Firm) & Ors [2016] EWHC 2511 (TCC) (17 October 2016): High Court rejects attempt to end case over ‘wrong’ court fee payment
Dixon & Anor v Radley House Partnership (A Firm) & Ors [2016] EWHC 3485 (QB) (17 October 2016): High Court awards indemnity costs
DR Jones Yeovil Ltd v The Stepping Stone Group Ltd [2020] EWHC 2308 (TCC) (04 September 2020): Payment of retention, transferred loss and defence of counterclaim
DR Jones Yeovil Ltd v Drayton Beaumont Services Ltd [2021] EWHC 1971 (TCC) (19 July 2021): application to amend after limitation period, Mastercard basis of amendment
Paul Read, Magna Housing
Paul joined Magna in 2017 to restart our ambitions to provide new affordable homes to rent and buy. In addition to Paul’s role at Magna he is supported by the organisation in his Dorset LEP Board position and as Chair of the Constructing Excellence South West Construction Clients Group.
Having worked on the front line of housing management, for house builders and construction companies focused on both new build and repairs and maintenance into the housing sector.
These insights have enabled Magna to realise the business case to expanding our routes into delivering homes by using both the best in traditional construction alongside our new capability that sees us now manufacturing consistently high quality homes to ever higher environmental standards.
