72 | Devine Plumbing T T Sue Russell Company structure works well Approximately 40% of their work is drainage, wastewater and earthworks, with the balance in plumbing and gas-fitting. CONTRACTING In the last few months, Napier plumbing, drainage and gas-fitting business, Devine Plumbing, has experienced a strong level of enquiry and increased business, which owner Campbell Devine says is a positive situation, keeping the team busy across an array of projects. In total, 33 people work in the business – seven in the office and the balance on the tools. “The team are very capable and hardworking,” Cam says. “We have 16 plumbers, drainlayers and gas-fitters, plus 10 apprentices, and 11 of the current plumbers have trained at Devines.” The company has certainly grown in scale, having started with just Cam and his father working together for the first four years. Eventually, Cam bought his father out and has been in charge of the company these past eight years, growing it to its current size and scale. Cam says he is still heavily involved on the tools, and that’s where he likes to be, and to enable this to happen he engaged a manager and highly competent administration staff, leaving him free to do what he enjoys most. “I think structuring the business this way has been a positive thing. It suits me to be out working with the team. I can see what’s happening and I’m out there training the apprentices. I like to lead from the front and be active, and it keeps my finger on the pulse.” Approximately 40% of their work is drainage, wastewater and earthworks, with the balance in plumbing and gas-fitting. At the size the company is now, Cam says, while the business is based in Napier the team can be spread across a wide geographic area, as far as from Wairoa/Mahia in the north. “We have been working through the whole of the east coast as far as Tiki Tiki, but spent a good part of the summer doing drainage repairs in Ruatoria and Whangara, where we’ve become favourites with the locals as they can be waiting up to three months at times to have a plumber or drainlayer.” And Cam’s certainly doing his bit to invest in the future of the sector, currently employing 10 apprentices, all at different stages along their qualification pathway. He says there are benefits to taking on untrained staff and teaching them the trades well. “I got a bit sick of taking on qualified staff who had been trained by other people. They were coming into our environment and it just wasn’t working so well. By training them up from the start, I can instill the quality of work I expect in my team.” Cam’s wife Marikki is a qualified plumber. She’s the one Cam goes to for advice as she is very good at reading people and what their qualities may be in the business.” Devine Plumbing works across the residential, commercial and civil sectors, so there’s plenty of variety and good challenges for the crew, and lots of opportunities for the apprentices to gain valuable skills. Cam says in the last six months he’s noticed some larger projects beginning to be commissioned, acknowledging the horticulture and agriculture sectors have been quiet recently while they recover from the impact of extreme weather events. The company has also subcontracted to Britkin Construction on a new coolstore project for client GEK, and Cam has noticed some larger projects beginning to come into planning stage. He considers the company at its current scale to be the perfect size. “We can tackle the big jobs, but we’re still small enough that I know everyone and that’s how I like it.” Two years ago, the company was recognised within the industry for the quality of its work, taking out the 2023 Master Plumber of the Year award for the region. With a dedicated admin staff, who keep the ship moving forward and the bills paid, led by Kerry, his long-serving office manager, Cam says the company is in a strong position. “I’m pleased with where we are at, the capabilities of the team and the wide range of projects we get involved in.” Napier /Wairarapa / Christchurch Transport New Zealand wide Storage available Class 1 & 2 Pilots www.hbheavyhaul.co.nz admin@hbheavyhaul.co.nz steve@hbheavyhaul.co.nz 027 557 7720 Abasin canmake or break abathroom – start by considering who will use the space, and how? Call into your local branch for more tips on creating the perfect bathroom. PlumbingWorldHome – lifehappens here. PlumbingWorldHastings Cnr Warren & Albert Streets Ph 06 872 6930 plumbingworld.co.nz PROUD TO SUPPORT DEVINEPLUMBING PlumbingWorldNapier 46 Wakefield Street Onekawa Ph 06 843 0103
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=