68 | CONTRACTING PCL Contracting Hewitt plays part in award success Virginia Wright Norm Hewitt at left with the PCL Contracting team after winning the Hynds Image Award at the 2022 Civil Contractors New Zealand Wellington/Wairarapa Awards. Porirua based PCL Contracting is one of the Civil Contracting companies whose work underpins developments around the country: commercial or industrial, big or small, building footpaths, roads, sewers and so on; whether it’s a small sub-division, a multi-hectare retirement village, or the drainage on a lengthy stretch of Transmission Gully. Luke Lee has been a director of PCL Contracting since he bought into the company in 2001 and has had a variety of partners over the years until in 2017 he became the sole director. Not for long though as Luke already had an eye to the future. “I’ve seen other business owners get to the point where they want to get out and they haven’t planned it, so I wanted to plan while I’m still highly motivated to be working in the business. We wanted to identify people who might be interested in being a business owner and a couple of our young, keen and motivated managers came forward and they own 30% now,” says Luke. It’s a typical of the sort of thinking outside the box which led to the initiative taken by Luke when he joined “The Alternative Board” (TAB). His board is made up of six very different business owners: a metal engineer, a recruiter and an accountant to name a few. They come together monthly to offer each other support and advice, on financial and other matters, working with TAB facilitator and business mentor Darryl Narain, who also helped Luke with the succession plan, strategy and analytical reviews. They also think beyond the financial bottom line at PCL Contracting and have for the last 10 years had ex-All Black Norm Hewitt working with them to create a culture that puts people first. “We call him the Keeper of the Culture. He’s helped in setting a standard of accountability and dealing with our people, not to them, because it’s a company that’s people driven. Our whole goal is to get everyone wanting to come to work and enjoying their day,” says Luke. With 63 people in the PCL Contracting team that’s no mean feat but through working with Norm they’ve now got clear touchstones guiding their way. “We started by him and I going round the teams doing one-on-ones talking about how they’re going: goals, ambitions, life at home, and how we can help. Now Norm’s trained the whole leadership team to do it too.” “For us PCL stands for People Changing Lives and that’s what we’re about,” explains Luke. “It began all those years ago, when we were helping people through some tough times in their lives, going into their homes, getting them professional help if they needed it. Proud to support PCL Contracting 06 929 7679 12 Pakihi Rd, Carterton 0508DRD POO (373766) 0274 508 799 drdpoo@drdc.co.nz www.drdc.co.nz Proudly supporting PCL Contracting The teamatWDS congratulates PCLwith their achievements andareproud tobeworkingwith their team in theWairarapakeeping their eet servicedand repaired. WDSare looking for quali ed DieselMechanics −get in touch withus today! ONSITE & MOBILE REPAIRERS 15 Edwin Feist Place, Masterton 06 370 3818 www.waidiesel.co.nz • Trucks & Trailers • Forestry Equipment • Loaders • Generators • 4x4 • Forklifts • Frost Machines • Tractors
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