| 17 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Taranaki’s key sectors covered Hawera-based Agtrans has moved its core activities well beyond the farm gate, to include servicing the Energy sector, transport and heavy haulage services, and includes a fleet of cranes and hiabs. Sue Russell Taranaki: Agtrans (06) 765 5188 52 Egmont St, Kaponga www.dynamech.co.nz Where there are cranes, there’s often nuts and bolts. We at Dynamech help Agtrans with the nuts and bolts, and when we're doing nuts and bolts and need a crane we call 0800 AGTRANS. Dynamech: proud to work in association with Agtrans. While the company’s name reflects a strong relationship to supplying transport services to the agricultural sector, these days Hawera-based Agtrans has moved its core activities well beyond the farm gate, to include servicing the Energy sector, transport and heavy haulage services, and a fleet of cranes and hiabs used in all manner of activity. The business began 10 years ago when C J Mahony and Phil D’Ath decided to bring their collective experience into one entity. “It’s interesting that in that decade we’ve grown to be a sizeable company, currently employing 28 staff across several divisions and we no longer do any agricultural transporting at all. It’s been a case of growing and seizing opportunities as these presented,” says C J. Today the business is very much commercially and industrially focused and the pair are the first to admit they haven’t been driven by some carefully thought-through set business growth strategy. Instead in the past 10 years they have steadily grown to the size and capability they now have. Turn-over has averaged an increase of 40% year on year, indicating that decisions taken have been the right ones. “It’s about positioning yourself where the key sectors are in the Taranaki, including the thriving energy sector, dairy processing and civil works. We don’t have one major client, instead servicing lots of different sectors so we are reasonably recession-proof,” Phil adds. And in the last 12 months Agtrans has picked up on the building boom sweeping the region. Handling the accounts and paper-work side to business life is C J while Phil takes on operational responsibilities, dealing with clients and apportioning jobs out to the team. Asked whether staff supply is a current issue C J says they have come to an understanding that the type of people they are looking for are those already carrying a trade qualification, but not necessarily carrying specific experience in the range of services Agtrans offers. While base is Taranaki, much of the work comes from other regions. “We’ve acquired a reputation of adapting well to a wide range of situations. Our operators and equipment are of a very high standard and we only buy the very best equipment available.” All staff carry at least four of the five key skill-sets needed to engage in all types of work and C J says professional development is a key strength and focus. Last year, $460,000 was spent on staff training with the average spent per staff of close to $70,000. “We see that as our key responsibility toward our staff. We want them to grow their skills and stay with us. It’s fair to say we have become an employer of choice.” C J and Phil says they are looking for someone who displays good hand/eye coordination and has good special awareness and a feel for what they are doing. “Given the sort of gear they are driving and using, it’s pretty important they are aware and comfortable in that space.” Engagement with the community is also an active part of the company’s life with a large amount of pro-bono work. One example of this is the recent donation of a small portable building to the local ‘Men’s Shed’ organisation. “That’s the most effective way we can engage and support the community we work in, by extending our resources and skills to groups who, in their way, also support the community.” And looking ahead, with a view to securing the business well into the future, Phil and C J are beginning to create an employee shareholder scheme, enabling key staff in time to own a share of the business. “We think it is only right that those who work here and create our success are provided with the opportunity to enjoy the consequences of that in time. “When you are a shareholder, you have a definite vested interested in ensuring the company continues to thrive.”
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