The Small Works Edge: How a Commercial Construction Contractor Enabled Barclays’ Regional Programme

When ISG invited us to support the delivery of Barclays’ regional request small works programme, we knew exactly how to respond. For over two years, Build With Iconic acted as a commercial construction contractor across more than 400 sites, quietly transforming banking environments while the nation slept.

Our strength lay not only in delivery, but in design: we brought a creative procurement model that allowed us to access the skilled domestic trade network that Tier 1 contractors typically cannot reach. These weren’t large-scale refits or flagship redevelopments; they were the kinds of works that are essential but often impractical or unprofitable for big contractors to undertake directly. We filled that gap with precision, responsiveness, and consistency.

We executed at speed, across a live estate, and without disruption.

A Commercial Construction Contractor for Programmes, Not Just Projects

Our brief was to act as a turnkey partner for ISG, overseeing the end-to-end delivery of Barclays’ small works programme across the UK. These works ranged from internal wall adjustments and minor joinery to data installation, flooring, and redecoration. On the surface, each task was modest but, together, they formed a national delivery programme with all the complexity of a major construction scheme.

We returned every site to operational readiness by morning—no excuses, no slippage.

Coordinating hundreds of sites over the course of a year demanded exceptional logistical control. We ensured that every operative, every material, and every instruction arrived at the right place, at the right time, every time. Our team orchestrated this moving puzzle with precision, giving ISG the confidence that every branch would be open and operational the following morning with no excuses, no slippage.

In doing so, we didn’t just deliver the work. We added value behind the scenes, helping to streamline aspects of ISG’s own internal processes. From refining scheduling flows to reducing on-site delays, our input made the entire delivery model smoother, faster, and more resilient.

That’s where our model excels. As a lean, highly responsive commercial construction contractor, we bridge the gap between domestic-scale works and programme-scale ambition. We tap into a trusted network of subcontractors and managing them with the rigour of Tier 1 oversight, without the overhead.

Trusted to Deliver, Night After Night

We managed every part of the build and the process. That meant:

• Site surveys and scope definition

• Principal Designer responsibilities

• Procurement and subcontractor coordination

• On-site supervision and safety management

• Daily liaison with Barclays’ PMs and branch staff

• Real-time programme reporting and variation control

This wasn’t light-touch coordination; it was full-spectrum programme leadership across a national estate. Our teams worked almost exclusively overnight to eliminate disruption, returning every site to operational readiness by morning. At peak delivery, we were managing dozens of live projects simultaneously, each with its own constraints, stakeholders, and evolving requirements.

Schedules shifted. Scopes changed. Expectations rose. We kept pace quietly, cleanly, and without compromise.

Emerging Leadership, Embedded Values

This programme was also a proving ground for future leadership. Oscar Hewitt (now Managing Director of Build With Iconic) personally managed over 100 sites in his first year, often overseeing multiple live projects simultaneously while navigating tight timelines and evolving scopes.

What set Oscar apart wasn’t just his capacity to deliver under pressure. It was his rare ability to connect. He’s equally at ease coordinating with trades on the ground as he was liaising with senior client stakeholders. Whether briefing a subcontractor at 2am or debriefing a regional director later that morning, his clarity, calm, and credibility carried weight.

This wasn’t just a contract. It was a statement of intent.

That ability to move fluently between operational detail and strategic oversight is one of the qualities that now defines our leadership culture. Oscar’s success during this programme wasn’t just a personal achievement; it proved the strength of our systems, our people, and the values that guide how we build.

A Model That Lasts Beyond the Programme

Though the programme came to a halt in late 2024 following ISG’s administration, its legacy remains. It proved what’s possible when small works are approached with the professionalism, precision, and respect they deserve, and when a commercial construction contractor brings more than just manpower to the table.

For us, this wasn’t just a contract. It was a test bed for our delivery model, our leadership, and our values under pressure. It validated our belief that small works can be executed at scale without compromising on care. It deepened our relationships, sharpened our systems, and cemented our role as the go-to delivery partner for organisations with complex, high-volume estates.

This was a statement of intent: to do small works differently, and to do them well. That ethos continues to guide Build With Iconic, quietly transforming the everyday into something exceptional.