Business Central February 2021

46 | CONTRACTING Blackley Construction Family firm continuing to thrive Karen Phelps SUPPLYING RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE SINCE 1973 0800 93 7473 hynds . co.nz Congratulations on 60 years Blackley Construction Congratulations to Blackley Construction on 60 years in business from the team at Robertson Isuzu 56 Railway Rd, Palmerston North 06 355 5062 www.robertsonisuzu.co.nz 447 Rangitikei Line, Palmerston North 0800 KOMATSU · 027 449 1605 www.machineryspecialists.co.nz Sales · Service · Parts SK F Lubrication Distributor · WORKSHOP · FIELD SERVICE · UNDERCARRIAGE REBUILD · ENGINEERING/FABRICATION · HYDRAULIC HOSING to page 48 O ver the past 60 years Blackley Con- struction has seen many changes as it has responded to shifting markets and client demands, says company rural contract manager James Christensen. Blackley provides civil and rural services to the Manawatu region including Feilding, Mar- ton, Rongotea, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa. The company was started in 1960 by Janice and Graeme Blackley in Carterton. The com- pany moved to Manawatu in 1965 and in 1969 shifted to Stoney Creek Road establishing the company’s existing depot. James says this has proved the perfect base, just a few kilometres north of Palmerston North and well located to service its rural and urban-based clients. Since those early days, the company has grown, developed, diversified and specialised. Janice and Graeme’s eldest son, Kevin, is now owner and managing director. Graeme, who is in his 80s, still comes to work though three days a week focusing on training and assessing staff, providing the op- portunity for staff to benefit from his consid- erable experience, says James. He says Kevin offers unparalleled experi- ence in the local industry having dug his way around the greater Manawatu. The management team also includes Bruce Lambie, who Kevin says is an acknowledged leader in health and safety. James puts the success of the company over so many decades down a combination of in-depth knowledge of ground conditions, consistently listening carefully to clients to identify problems, generating options to resolve problems and innovating to deliver quality solutions in a cost effective way. He says establishing strong, long term and trusted relationships with clients is important.