| 109 T T Sue Russell Watching apprentices thrive a buzz for builder Bridget and Wayne Bishop. Wayne Bishop Group BUILDING The way Wayne Bishop describes his working life puts the journey into perspective – ‘As soon as I completed my building apprenticeship I set up my business in 1992 and from that day to this it has just got progressively busier’. Based in Levin Wayne Bishop Group has seized opportunities as these presented; always with the vision to keep the company growing from strength to strength. During the 1990’s undertaking apartment fit-outs in the centre of Wellington proved financially rewarding. “I thought I would start doing some spec building work and back in 1987 we started our first big project, a retirement village, which taught us a whole lot of stuff,” Wayne explains. Track forward to the mid 2010’s Wayne and wife Bridget were again looking for a sizeable challenge and when the old site of the Kimberley Hospital in Levin, spanning 120 acres came available they started building Speldhurst Country Estate, in the process creating jobs in an area which had a history of poor employment. “It was a whirlwind journey. We bought the land and buildings in 2014, had it consented in 2015 and started selling homes in 2016. We were really growing and made the Deloitte Fat 50 list.” Today, Wayne Bishop Group is still managing to build 100 houses on the site and Wayne says he’s especially happy given what this project has enabled in the district he’s proud to call home. And reflecting that passage of development, the business now engages about 150 staff, including 30 apprentices. “Seeing young kids turned into skilled tradesmen is a wonderful thing because the implications of gaining a trade qualification are huge for them,” Wayne says. Wayne Bishop Group today is a vertically integrated business, expanding beyond building into a raft of allied trades, such as plumbing, flooring, scaffolding as they build their transportable homes. And what’s great about the story is that Speldhurst Retirement Village, owned and operated by the family business is the source of funding to enable Wayne Bishop Group to continue to seize opportunities and flourish, for the betterment of the district and its people. “It’s given us horse-power. I currently have a landbank for 1000 houses and big plans for its development. I want to see the Horowhenua become its best self.” Wayne acknowledges most of his thinking and activity is wrapped around the future, enabling the visions to be cemented by those in the company following behind. He very much enjoys the creativeness development work brings. Another huge affirmation for Wayne is in seeing his young apprentices thrive, as in the case of Taharangi McWatters who was named the Central North Island & East Coast/Hawke’s Bay 2023 Registered Master Buildings CARTERS Apprentice of the Year. “His positive attitude and his ability to communicate and express what he is thinking or doing is outstanding. A lot of guys in our “Seeing young kids turned into skilled tradesmen is a wonderful thing because the implications of gaining a trade qualification are huge for them.” trade struggle to communicate and Taha has real leadership quality.” Judges noted his incredible passion for construction and a deep understanding of the building sector, which will set him in good stead; an enthusiastic apprentice who is well liked and respected by his colleagues. For Wayne who always carries a positive attitude to the construction and development sector he’s passionate about, the best years are still to come. “We have some awesome stuff ahead with 10 sites open now and many more opportunities ahead.” Proudly supplying high-quality granite & engineered stone benchtops to local joiners, kitchen companies and builders. Congratulations toWayne Bishop Group for their success at the Apprentice of the Year Awards Granite Tops Limited 06 368 6408 info@granitetopsltd.co.nz Function, style and affordability PlumbingWorld Levin 55 Main South Road, Horowhenua, Levin Ph. 06 366 0018 Branches Nationwide plumbingworld.co.nz —you can have it all.
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