74 | Elite Build has built up a reputation for delivering top quality builds. BUILDING Talk to us today, the feature profile experts Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz PROFILE YOUR PROJECT... Firm humming along nicely in Napier Sue Russell Elite Build Napier residential and commercial building company Elite Build has been in existence 15 years, established by husband and wife team Matt and Sarah Tester. Matt, ‘Matt the Builder’, says business grew mainly by word of mouth. “I built my sisters home and over time people heard about our work just came along. I think it often happens that way in smaller towns,” says Matt. Most projects are in Napier and Hastings and surrounding settlements. Today, there’s a team of six, including two apprentices, a qualified builder, and Matt and Sarah, who if not in the office is often to be seen labouring on the building site. Asked whether he would wish the company to grow much larger Matt says he is happy with its current situation, acknowledging though that a couple more builders wouldn’t go amiss. “Dylan has been with me 14 years and was my original apprentice and Regan has been here about six years. Orren is in his third year of his apprenticeship and has done very well.” So much so, that this year Orren was announced second in the Hawke’s Bay/East Coast Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition. Real recognition, Matt says, of his talent and passion for building. “He’s very eager to learn. He is coming up 30 and I took him on at 27 years old; a little more mature. I suggested to him he might like to enter the Apprenticeship of the Year award and he jumped at the chance.” In fact, Orren was so keen that he had already started studying up for the event. Entering involved several tasks, including submitting a case-study on a project which took over a year to complete. Photographs were also submitted of the build. This was followed by a stand-alone interview on site discussing the case-study. “There was also a practical component held at Carters. Those entered in the competition don’t know what they are going to be asked to build. They built a shoe-rack and there was a time-limit ticking.” Matt describes Orren as a sponge, just wanting to soak up more and more learning. “His vision is to one day be self-employed and I think he’s going to have an excellent future.” Asked what he pins his company’s success on Matt says it comes down to some very important basic realities. “Quality leads it by far. You have to set the very highest standards and maintain them on every build. Word gets around when quality is high and it also gets around when it is sub-standard.” Similarly Matt has clear views on what contributes to a solid Apprenticeship pathway. “Time on the tools is essential backed up by the paperwork. “The Apprenticeship scheme that EIT has evolved has been a bit of a game changer in my opinion. It’s very good.” And COVID has of course impacted, as it has in the construction sector generally. Planning for extended timeframes of supply of materials has become critical and now that things are opening up Matt says this Christmas the team will have a shorter Christmas break than usual. “We’ll still have a good break because we all need it, but will be back on the tools a little earlier to get the new year up and running well.”
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