106 | ASAP Contracting T T Sue Russell Quick growth for Hamilton business ASAP contracting has done a wide range of work on educational facilities. BUILDING Wes Cooper established Hamilton home renovation and maintenance business ASAP Contracting 12 years ago and in that relatively short period of time has grown it to a staff of 32, as opportunities to evolve and seize new business presented. “At one point earlier this year we had over 40 staff, but reading a slow-down ahead in the construction sector generally, we’re now at a size that is sustainable and a good fit,” Wes says. Along with all round repairs, renovations, extensions and the like, Wes has developed long-lasting business relationships with key clients such as the Ministry of Education. “We’ve been involved in some great projects on some of the Waikato’s oldest schools that really carry a history and speak to a time when builders were ‘old school’ and did a lot of the preparation of timber themselves on site. It’s great for my team to see some of this wonderful old work,” says Wes. One such project was at Kawhia Primary School, on the Waikato’s west-coast. Often, in small communities such as Kawhia, the local school, community hall and churches are the oldest buildings. “It turns out one of my staff member’s Grandfather was involved in building the school so that was a great experience to be back at the school three generations later.” And the thread of family history and passion runs through Wes’s veins as well. His grandfather was a chippy who, Wes says, inspired him to become a builder. “Back in those days timber was just delivered as a raw product on site and the builders had to shape and form it fit for purpose.” With a QS on staff and a senior team who visit sites and projects to assess what is needed, ASAP Contracting has developed the management structure and systems to support a constant flow of projects crossing the desk. Projects extend all over the Greater Waikato region and come in all shapes and sizes. Some carry special meaning, as Wes explains. “We were engaged by the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust who manage the Maungatautari ecological park, marked by 47km of fencing around the top of a mountain in South Waikato.” The project involved building, what Wes describes as a large architecturally designed pavilion education centre, on the side of the mountain, where pests have been eliminated and flora and fauna flourish. “The education centre is for schools to use when students visit. We were privileged to be a part of this wonderful project that will provide young people with really meaningful ways to engage with nature.” When the ground was broken, a team from ASAP Contracting were present, to hear a kaumatua speak and bless the project ahead. Now completed, Wes says, it’s a wonderful facility. “It was a complex build and the cool thing about it was that because it is a Trust overseeing the project, the whole building was funded through a variety of sponsors, making it a real community asset.” ASAP Contracting are also one of three preferred builders for IAG Insurance. Wes says having this work really put the business on a strong footing, given the nature and variety of work the team worked on. “We’ve worked in really old villas, right up to homes that are just a couple of years old, so its a great learning space for apprentices coming through to get a taste of such variety.” Wes says he’s pleased with the decisions he made about where to take his building career. Following a serious accident 15 years ago, which resulted in him breaking his back, Wes first managed a building company in Hamilton and then shifted into maintenance work, cutting his teeth on fixing anything that broke at Countdown Supermarkets. He’s been undertaking insurance work for 12 years now. “When everyone else from that era got into doing house development projects for themselves I didn’t want to go in that direction.” He’s proud of the fact that he built a company structure that works, to support his staff, ensure a good work/life balance for all, and above all, be responsive when the call comes in. Wes is also a believer in having the best support around to ensure the business keeps on track. “I have an amazing office manager and we visit our company accountant regularly to keep in tune with how the business is going. A mistake a lot of people make is they think an accountant is there just to process the annual accounts. “I want to know moment by moment how the business is going and not have to deal with a problem months down the track. It’s about really staying in tune with where the business is at constantly that works well for me.” “We’ve been involved in some great projects on some of the Waikato’s oldest schools that really carry a history ...” • Residential • New Builds • Renovations • Maintenance • AC/Heat Pumps • Data • Security • EV Charger • Solar • Commercial Services 027 696 3467 - Dan connectelectrical2015@gmail.com www.connectelectrical.co.nz CONNECT ELECTRICAL 2015 LIMITED Proudly Supporting ASAP Contracting 027 758 6248 | office@plumbwaikato.co.nz Waikato Plumbing Specialists - Renovations, Alterations, Commercial & Maintenance
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