Independent housebuilder Dandara has appointed experienced construction leader David Ford as its new Group Health and Safety Director, bringing more than 35 years of sector experience to the role.
David joined Dandara in June 2025 following a long career shaping health, safety and wellbeing strategies across major UK developers. His background includes 18 years at Redrow Homes, where he served as Group Health and Safety Director. During his time there, he led the implementation of safety management systems, represented the company at national industry forums and drove award-winning occupational health initiatives. He has also held senior leadership roles with Starship Group and CHAS, alongside earlier advisory positions with Countryside Properties, Wates Group and Alfred McAlpine.
His role at Dandara also encompasses responsibility for Dandara Living, supporting the Build to Rent portfolio and ensuring consistent health, safety and wellbeing standards across both private for-sale and rental operations.
David said his decision to join the business was shaped by Dandara’s reputation, culture and the quality of its homes. He said:
“I’ve only ever worked for a handful of companies in my career, so when I make a move it has to feel right. Before accepting the role I reached out across my network and the feedback about Dandara was consistently positive. I genuinely felt a connection with everyone I met, and of course the homes themselves speak for the business – a great product in some fantastic locations.
Within his first eight weeks, David completed a full tour of Dandara’s regional offices and developments across the UK, Jersey and the Isle of Man. His immediate focus has been understanding regional operations, supporting teams on the ground and reinforcing visibility across the business.
Looking ahead, David is focused on maintaining a strong culture through collaboration, pragmatic leadership and early engagement. He said: “You know when a safety culture is working because people call you before there’s an issue, not after. Engagement is the part of the job I enjoy most. I’ve seen organisations try to manage safety through fear and it never works – it simply pushes problems underground. What we want at Dandara is a supportive, balanced approach that helps people understand the benefits of good health, safety and wellbeing. If teams are settled, engaged and feel able to speak openly, performance naturally improves.”
Chris Harris, Chief Operating Officer at Dandara, said:
“David has an exceptional track record and a genuine passion for engaging with people at every level. What stood out to us was not just his technical knowledge but his style – calm, collaborative and practical. He’s already had a positive impact across our regions and his leadership will be important as we continue to grow.”
For more information, visit www.dandara.com