Expertise & Experience
Nicola is experienced in the following key sectors:
Construction
Education
Retail
Experience:
Nicola Bird is an award-winning business leader, educator and changemaker who is redefining what it means to build a career, and a community in construction.
As Chief Operating Officer of K W Bell Group and Founder of AccXel Construction School, Nicola represents the third generation of a proud family legacy that has been building in the South West for over half a century. Her journey is one of courage, reinvention and purpose: from becoming a college lecturer in Beauty Therapy at just 18- the youngest on campus, to completing her Master’s in Safety, Health & Environmental Management and founding the UK’s first industry-led construction school.
In 2021, Nicola launched AccXel, a £3 million co-funded project born from her belief that education and industry must work together to inspire the next generation. Securing £1.96 million in capital funding through the Government’s Getting Building Fund, Nicola brought to life a first-of-its-kind training facility that bridges the gap between education and employment.
As COO, Nicola oversees five core businesses across construction, development, plant hire, education and hospitality; Bell Contracting, Bell Homes, Bell Plant, AccXel and The Belfry Hotel – accumulating in a diverse £80 million portfolio of companies united by shared values, family ethos and community purpose.
Alongside her leadership roles, Nicola serves on the CITB National Construction Colleges & Apprenticeships Board, chairs the Forest Economic Partnership, and sits on Gloucestershire County Council’s
As a business owner and leader across five very different businesses, I understand the realities of growth, change and decision-making at every stage. Alongside my role as Chair of the Forest Economic Partnership, I see first-hand the challenges local businesses face; from skills and leadership to resilience and long-term planning. Becoming a Hub Mentor felt like a natural way to give back, share practical experience, and support others to turn ambition into sustainable progress.
