| 97 Cremer Construction BUILDING Structural review ‘important’ Cremer Construction focuses on residential new builds, extensions, and upgrades/renovations. T T Sue Russell Long-established Wellington residential construction business, Cremer Construction, has gone through a substantial structural review this year to bring it to a place where it can respond nimbly and provide its range of services efficienty and effectively, says Director Dave Cremer. Working closely with General Manager, Julian Buhler and Clive Green, Project Manager, the business focuses on residential new builds, extensions, upgrades/renovations and has made a mark for itself since establishing in 2017 in the competitive Wellington residential build sector. “It’s important to have a good look from time to time as to how you are structured and in what ways you’re delivering your services to clients. That’s what we took the opportunity to do this year,” Dave explains, stressing how important it is to have the right set of skills on board, with clear shared visions and goals for the company. The conversation drifts to a topic both Juian and Dave are passionate about, and that is how the industry best serves and encourages the next generation of builders to come into learning well. “The market is growing and we would certainly like to see more people coming through,” say Dave. For 29-year-old Julian, who grew up with a very strong family fuelled by an equally strong work-ethic, he knows that without the drive and fortitude he grew up seeing in those around him, he wouldn’t be where he is today. “In the world today, it’s very easy to have an instant hit, instant gratification. We see kids glued to their smart devices and this is what they’re getting. So they come into the work space with entitlement issues. They may be an apprentice but their expectation is so much more, which is doing them no service at all,” Julian says. Dave echoes this sentiment, stating that without hard times its hard to appreciate where you are going. A great deal of thought has gone into remodelling the business to embrace the challenges the future holds. A big part of this is to have a core team steering the company, living the values and aspirations “It’s important to have a good look from time to time as to how you are structured and in what ways you’re delivering your services to clients.” the business has strategically set for itself. “It’s the only way to adapt to relentless change and challenge. To have this wider, longer view,” Dave says. Julian calls it the ‘Think Tank’, a group of four ‘good brains’ who can step out of the day to day to discuss and prepare best for what lies ahead, then develop the systems to bring that into the day to day context with the team. “We’re trying to put structures in place to keep the young staff and apprentices motivated. Through the the last three or four years we would have counselled two or three who were in dark places, with suicidal thoughts,” Dave says. Setting KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) is one way this can be achieved, Julian explains. “By enforcing KPI’s in an engaging, supportive way where the apprentice has ownership and can see the benefits of working toward and achieving work goals,” Julian explains. Dave intends to see how the next five years or so go in the business, as he transcends to a less immediate position within the company. “I think I have a couple of people who will carry the business through into the next era. Julian will be one of them.” Building a great team is about getting a good mix of the experienced good site foreman bringing along the next generation. It’s careful, both Dave and Julian stress, to ensure there is enough experience to be able to competently support apprentices coming through. Asked how next year is shaping up Julian says it’s shaping up to be pretty full-on with a good six months hard yacka ahead, in both Cremer Construction and the other family business entity Cramer Lifts, based in Auckland. Cremer Group is expanding and growing into other services. “I expect that by the end of next year we will have taken on another 10-14 people. There seems to be a lot more interest and leads coming through toward the end of 2023,” Dave comments. The longer-term goal for both Cremer Construction and Cramer Lifts is to get to a place where the company can turn a benevolent eye toward its communities. “I see that as an important responsibility of any successful business; to give back, to enable social enterprise and support of the community, many of whom are in need, to happen.” Professional House Painters in Upper & Lower Hutt, Wellington Proudly Supporting Cremer Construction Locally owned & operated | Professional and Experienced High Quality Materials | Quality Work Call us at - 0508 VIETDUC www.vietduc.co.nz
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