12 | Rotorua Business Awards: InfraCore Taking care of Rotorua’s unique landscapes When Covid struck, InfraCore jumped in and employed 25 new people. BUSINESS R O T O R U A SALES • SERVICE REPAIRS on all makes and models Opposite Pak’n Save Cnr Amohau & Hinemaru Street PHONE: 07 348 6614 rotorua@stihlshop.co.nz hobec.co.nz Helping to build a thriving community We areproud toprovide legal services to InfraCore andwe congratulate themon their success. 07 348 7632 8 McCloskey Road, Mangakakahi, Rotorua admin@ICelectrical.co.nz • Industrial Electrical • Telemetery • PLC • Industrial Repair & Service “InfraCore has shifted in the past six years from being a Council Works Department to a stand-alone commercial operation.” Having the opportunity to speak with Emma Murray and Shelley Woisin, from Rotorua-based InfraCore provided insight into the passion and commitment the company has in its role taking care of Rotorua’s unique landscape. The company has several important roles; taking care of the city’s parks and public recreation spaces and multitude gardens, maintaining the city’s two waters, drinking and stormwater, and providing a resource of plants and greenery at its nursery for companies and individuals to access. Emma is InfraCore’s Chief Financial Officer and joined the organisation because she wanted to work for the community, while Shelley, General Manager of People, Capability and Safety, who has been with the company two years, saw it as a way of being involved in an organisation that has such a big presence and impact in the town. “InfraCore has shifted in the past six years from being a Council Works Department to a stand-alone commercial operation but throughout this journey it has retained a strong focus on enhancing the quality of this wonderful environment, we’re all proud to live and work in. “We have been on a journey ensuring that the business is ready to operate in an ever-changing environment. We are technology focused, and agile for all works that come our way” says Emma. Shelley describes the culture at InfraCore as second-to-none. And a significant aspect of the business she understands well and acknowledges as its core strength is its people. When Covid struck, bringing unexpected loss of employment for locals, Shelley says InfraCore proactively jumped in and employed 25 new people, who had not had any former experience. Covid also brought a lot of people ‘home’, who had worked and lived elsewhere for some time. “I’m very proud of that decision to offer redeployment to those who no longer had jobs. Those people have become integral to our company and very much a part of our team of 130.” In her role as CFO Emma leads the Finance and Support Centre functions, reporting decisions around tendering projects, reviewing prices and enabling all arms of the organisation to function well. “Our service centre operates from our central depot in Vaughan Road, however we have multiple satellite locations throughout the city, so it’s a very dynamic and engaging position to be in, and really worthwhile.” The company is led by CEO Matt Scott, who said the success of InfraCore and all it is achieving for Rotorua comes simply down to its people. T Sue Russell “Both Emma and Shelley are part of the Executive Leadership Team, and very much across the history of the company, the current direction, and the future strategy of InfraCore. Shelley drafted the submission for the Workplace Safety award and is also accountable for our HR award nomination at this year’s Rotorua Business Chamber Business awards,” Matt says. An example of Shelley’s contribution has been in the creation of the ‘Why Don’t We Just’ programme, which actively encourages employees to pitch their thoughts in about improvements and ways to add value to the company and to the experiences of employees. “All ideas come to the Leadership Team. An example is the idea to move toward disposable rubbish bags and enhancing plant and equipment to improve employee performance, health and safety,” Shelley says. “Giving our people increased opportunity to engage has improved health and safety reporting, leading to a reduction in workplace injuries and an improvement in the overall wellbeing of our team”. A really wonderful project currently being undertaken with other contractors in the district is the development of the lake water-front. “One of the things that is so satisfying about working for InfraCore is that we see our contribution to this community and to the quality of life for those living here. That is such a great thing to be a part of. Our work on maintaining the highest quality drinking water is something we’re very proud of,” says Emma. There’s also a strong focus on upskilling and professional development within InfraCore. When Business Central spoke with Shelley and Emma 20 employees were engaged in tertiary training with apprenticeships or other professional development, “our people are our biggest asset, so ensuring they have not just the right skills for the job, but ensuring they can continue to grow and develop both professionally and personally is critical to InfraCore’s ongoing people strategy. “We are a people business, is how we look at ourselves first and foremost.” And for proof of that statement there’s the number of comments the team receives on Facebook about the impact InfraCore’s work is having around the town and district. Shelley sums it up: “We are both just so happy to be a part of an organisation doing so much good.”
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