118 | SJP Builders Ltd BUILDING SJP Builders set to remain busy SJP Builders, which Scott established almost nine years ago, is Whanganui based, but their projects are scattered far and wide. At first glance, a busy construction site might appear to be all about bricks and mortar, but there’s much more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. Just ask Scott Pedley of SJP Builders, whose projects involve not only building but also countless hours pricing, planning, and coordinating sub-contractors to ensure everything runs smoothly. Not only does that behind the scenes work often go unnoticed, it is unpaid - and is simply just part of the service that Scott, like many other builders, offer. It goes without saying that when a job falls through at the 11th hour, following countless planning, a sense of disappointment and frustration takes over, as was the case for Scott earlier this year. He estimates he possibly lost about 80 hours of his time as a result. “But, I guess that’s part of the nature of the work.” He said, fortunately, another job came through which tied his team over for six months. Although the construction sector has had its quiet spells in recent times, SJP Builders has forged on and as they head into the final part of the year, look set to remain busy into the foreseeable future. “We’re fully booked out for this year and I’d say into next year as well,” he said. “It’s crazy, it’s just taken off.” Scott is currently pricing several new builds, while extensive renovation projects have also kept his team busy in recent months, particularly requests for state of the art new kitchens and bathrooms. SJP Builders, which Scott established almost nine years ago, is Whanganui based, but their projects are scattered far and wide, from Palmerston North, to Taumarunui and Taupo. He also has a job to price in Ȱpunake, a two hour drive from Whanganui. “If the money’s right we’ll go anywhere,” Scott said. While SJP Builders has a healthy workload, the construction sector was still suffering in Whanganui as people tightened their belts and spent less money due to high interest rates. However, Scott believed things were starting to pick up. He has five staff on his team, helping to keep projects moving, including two apprentices, one of whom is in his first year and the other in his final year. Scott has embraced hiring young talent straight out of school, including a 15-year-old apprentice, who has now been on the team for seven years and was proving his worth. Scott later discovered that the same young worker was doing a shift at Pak ‘n Save each T T Alexia Johnston morning before joining the team on the building site. “If you’ve got a young fella that’s really, really keen to learn, I find it really cool to teach them everything I know.” That 15-year-old, who is now 23, serves as Scott’s foreman. Scott recalls his own journey into the construction sector starting out in a very similar way. He was just 15, decided school wasn’t for him, set foot in the construction industry and embraced everything it offered and taught him along the way, and is now passing on his knowledge to the next generation. With a thriving team and a growing workload, Scott’s commitment to nurturing young talent and delivering quality work continues to shape the future of SJP Builders, one project at a time. Contact Dan Bernard - Qualified Tiler P: 027 470 9655 E: bernardtiling@gmail.com Proud to be supporting SJP Builders Ltd WHANGANUI (06) 349 1919 | Cnr Wilson & Guyton St EXPERT PARTNER OF GJ GARDNER HOMES TOGETHER, WE’RE BUILDING NEW ZEALAND 0800 4 SCAFIT (0800 4 722 348) www.scafit.co.nz • Scaffolding • Enclosures • Safety Nets • Mobiles • Fencing • Formwork
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=