16 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Croft Poles Sue Russell Promoting a better place to work The happy team at Northland timber merchant company Croft Poles & Timber. Audrey Bridgman has been with Northland timber merchant company Croft Poles & Timber almost two years and is thoroughly enjoying the variety and challenges of her role as HR Manager. She’s taken the time to get to know the team and various divisions within the business and says the emphasis on company culture is its core value and strength. “We do everything we can to ensure everyone working here feels a valued part of the business, regardless of longevity or role,” says Audrey. Working with very much an open-door policy is important she stresses. The predominantly male workforce has easy access to her and Audrey says this is important. “I have had people come into the office and tell me about personal problems. I think it’s really essential the team feel able to share with some-one there to understand and help. It also helps to reduce workplace tensions and keep things moving forward positively.” Based in Kauri, 10 minutes north of Whangarei all the raw timber is processed on site. Croft Poles and Timber source their logs from across Northland where the climate and soil conditions are perfect for growing stronger radiata pine. Stronger wood builds naturally stronger walls or fences that will stand the test of time and whatever the environment throws at them. Croft Poles is a multi-generational family business and was established in 1916, over 100 years ago. There’s a branch in Henderson which serves as a distribution yard. “Our treated timber poles are tough enough for any job. From horticulture to retaining walls, whatever size and specifications you need, you can be assured that we’ll supply the right product every time.” There’s some pretty innovative thinking that has gone into supporting a healthy engaging work-place. Things you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see happening on a timber site or in most working environments. “Everyone who works here is part of a family-tree because often a hierarchy in a business will just be focussed on management and executive. Here you’re treated as a person of value within a ‘family’. General Manager, Felice Croft, does an exceptional job at upholding and living the company’s values which are very much seeing the business as a family. The ‘whanau-tree’ includes branches for different personality types – coloured red, blue, yellow and green. Staff are personality tested and placed on the tree with a specific colour that best describes their natures. Red people are very direct, straight-up and get to the point quickly, while Yellow are a little less inclined to be as boisterous. Green personalities are those people who are great at helping others and Blue depicts a person who likes to be the peace-keeper; they don’t like to ruffle feathers. Now all this may sound somewhat ‘left-field’ in a business setting, however Audrey says it works. Colleagues understand a little more about the nature of their work mates. “We’ve invested a lot of time and resources on using a local coach. Everyone who works here attended the sessions and the coach mixed personality types up into groups and then talked through how best to communicate with your mate if a conflict or situation crops up.” It meant staff met others working in the business that they wouldn’t necessarily encounter and, Audrey says, was a great leveller. “The coach taught staff about reflective listening, where some-one just listens actively and doesn’t put up road-blocks or tell a colleague what they should do.” In total, staff participated in three sessions with a week or two between each one, giving · Livestock · Logs · Water · Readymix Concrete · General Cartage 09 406 0087 | mangonuihaulage.co.nz la B L A D E S A T W O R K For the right advice call 0800 425 574 sales@aslindustries.co.nz | www.aslindustries.co.nz In the cutting business for over 30 years. With over 40 years experience in the industry, ASL’s team have the ability to solve any cutting issues. Many of our existing customers have been with the company for over 25 years. The experience and dedication of our team is unparalleled in the industry. We have been providing cutting-edge technology solutions for over 30 years, with an emphasis on customer care. Visit us at our new sawshop at 1 Kepa Road Ruakaka.
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