106 | Hanna Construction T T Sue Russell Apprentice training a family focus Hanna Construction engages in a range of building situations from residential new homes, renovations and alterations, recladding, repairs and light commercial works. BUILDING With a father who established the Wellington-based business in the mid 1980’s it’s not surprising that when Ben Hanna left school he went straight into studying construction. “I’ve always been around the business though even as a child I’d be riding around in the vans. My father, John, is a very well known through his role with Wellington Master Builders and his 30 plus years in building and he’s still involved today. He’s great with the clients and for passing down the ‘oldschool’ ways of building,” Ben says. Dad was heavily involved in the apprentice trade training days and founding the Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition and has given a great deal to the industry over the years. The company engages in a range of building situations from residential new homes, renovations and alterations, recladding, repairs and light commercial works. Hanna Construction is a small team of carpenters but would like to take on a new apprentice sometime in 2024. “I like to make sure we have a good ratio of skilled/experienced builders when considering taking on a new apprentice.” Ben says 2023 has been an interesting year, coming out of covid, rising interest rates impacting on the residential new-build market in particular. He’s of the opinion, now that the election is over, that 2024 will see a pick-up in this market. The bulk of this year has seen the team focussing on a very high-end residential build for very good clients in Wellington. “We’ve also had the pleasure of helping out completing a project for the Church of Samoa, in Porirua.” Interspersed with these projects has been some recladding work and, given their work is in and around Wellington there is always ongoing maintenance to take care of. “There’s a real mixed-bag of housing in Wellington and some very challenging building sites.” Ben says while enjoying working with a small team he’s open to growing the size of the company should and when the market begins to pick up. Wellington, he says, is a good area to be a builder in. The motorway network and recent upgrades enable travel quite readily from one part of the Greater Wellington region to another. Asked his opinion of the quality of the Apprenticeship Programmes on offer, Ben thinks they are very good, giving apprentices, depending on their circumstances, plenty of options as to how they gain their qualifications. “I also like the pre-trade programmes offered to give people the experience of learning and gaining basic understanding of what building is all about before starting an apprenticeship. Once you enter into the industry to be paid while you are learning as an apprentice is a great opportunity to make a solid start as well.” The new home we built in Churton Park was a very rewarding build, it came up looking fantastic with the mixture of claddings and the emphasis of wood claddings for interior and exterior and the architects Parsonson Architects, brought the feel of Asian influences into their design as well. This project also gave one of our previous apprentices the opportunity to step up and take aspects of the build on himself. He was very proud of his works and submitted this project as part of his apprentice of the year application. He ended up winning a second place in Wellington’s Masterbuilders Apprentice of the year competition, which was great to see. Above all Ben says the building industry is an exciting one to be a part of. “You see something different every day and you’re always learning, growing and gaining new skills. Working with new clients, engineers and architects is all a part of your career growth and you build up confidence as each project is completed.” Being able to pass down the skills and knowledge you have learned throughout your time in the industry is an important role of an experienced tradesperson also, and having the opportunity to watch an apprentice learn and develop into a great builder is extraordinarily satisfying. “To provide them with the opportunities to maybe one day establish their own building business is all part of it.” Hanna Construction is a member of Masterbuilders and has received multiple awards from the Master Builders House of the Year Awards in its time. EXPERTS IN CONSTRUCTION Residen�al, Commercial, Renova�ons, Re-cladding www.hannaconstruction.co.nz Supplying Timber Doors to the trade including cavity sliders, entrance doors, bifolds and interior doors Proud to support Hanna Construction
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