| 23 Heron Ship Repair The Whangarei-based company employs just under 60 permanent staff. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Heron Ship Repair is navigating the challenges of recruiting skilled workers to keep up with demand for services. “We’re actively recruiting for fitter-turner engineers, marine-experienced fabricators, boilermakers and project managers. They are unicorns when it comes to the marine industry and refitting vessels,” says company general manager Spencer Brown. The Whangarei-based company employs just under 60 permanent staff and is struggling to recruit experienced staff and address the skill shortage. “The volume and varied type of work we can offer is fantastic. We are an essential service supporting some large, important New Zealand organisations,” explains Spencer. “New staff are exposed to highly talented marine fabricators, painters and engineers in the Northland region, and it’s essential the knowledge is transferred to the next generation.” Heron Ship Repair’s services span ship repair, heavy fabrication and marine engineering, custom ship refits and ship surveys. Since its acquisition by Heron Construction in 2018, Heron Ship Repair has undergone significant transformation. It has invested heavily in modernising its facilities, including replacing a 60-year-old steel slipway cradle with a new design that increased its vessel capacity from 1200 to 1800 tonnes. It has also added blasting and painting capabilities and facilities, bringing previously outsourced work in-house. Seeking local talent The company maintains a strong commitment to apprenticeship programmes, currently training about six apprentices across various trades. “We try to keep a decent ratio of apprentices in the organisation: engineering, fitter-turners and welder boilermakers,’ says Spencer. The company’s workforce strategy includes attracting talent from beyond the Northland region, with recent success in recruiting a project manager from Auckland, who relocated for lifestyle reasons. “For those doing a rostered role, they can be out fishing or surfing by 4.30pm and enjoying all the area has to offer. Our staff love living in this area or commuting from outlying areas,” says Spencer. Spencer himself exemplifies the company’s openness to professionals bringing transferable skills from other sectors. Having relocated from Auckland 18 months ago, he brings a decade of experience from Ports of Auckland operations. “It has been challenging as I’ve changed industries, albeit with transferable skills, to this role. In my previous role I got a clear understanding of how vessels operate, but not necessarily how they are maintained and what their legislative or certification requirements are, so it’s been a steep learning curve understanding the ins and outs of running a ship yard,” he says. Spencer remains optimistic about the future career prospects. “It’s a really interesting industry and one I see having a strong future in New Zealand as long as it’s supported by central and local government. New Zealand already has a great reputation in the marine sector. It’s a great career to consider.” T T Karen Phelps Repairs & Refit Design & Planning Service & Maintenance Manufacture & Installation marineelectric.co.nz PROUDLY SUPPORTING HERON SHIP REPAIR LTD Northland Industrial Insulation Specialist Marks 40 Years of Excellence Whangarei-based industrial insulation and sheet metal fabrication specialist Ross Insulation is celebrating a signi icant milestone in 2024 - 40 years of continuous operation in Northland. "It's a good team environment, we all work in together to be there for our clients when they need us," says Ray Pascoe who has been with the company for over 30 years, buying into the business in 2007, before taking full ownership approximately four years ago The company's journey began in 1984 when Ray's stepfather Ross Cochrane and Don Walton identi ied a crucial gap in the market. With the expansion of the Marsden Point Oil Re inery in the 1980s creating a shortage of insulation companies, they established their workshop on Port Road, Whangarei - where it remains based today. From its origins serving the oil re inery, the company has diversi ied signi icantly, now providing services across various sectors including dairy, meat, timber, marine (it is the only marine insulator in Whangarei), geothermal, and petrochemical industries. Ross Insulation 's longevity can be attributed to its adaptability and commitment to quality. The company’s expertise extends from industrial insulation to sheet metal fabrication, making it the preferred supplier for some of Northlands’ largest companies, says Ray. Its Whangarei workshop is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery including a CNC plasma cutter, 3m 160 tonne brake press, specialised welding equipment, and AutoCAD design services. The business has maintained a small, tightknit team of long serving sta members, many of whom have contributed to the company's growth and success over the years. Safety has been paramount throughout the company’s journey, with Ross Insulation achieving a ive-star Prequal rating and maintaining a solid track record in health and safety compliance. This commitment has helped secure long-term relationships with major clients such as Heron Ship Repair. Looking back over the 40 years, the company's growth from a small operation serving the re inery to a diverse industrial service provider demonstrates the success of its business model. The ability to adapt to changing market needs, while maintaining high standards of workmanship, has ensured Ross Insulation’s continued success in the region. "We've been in the business a long time and know our customers' requirements well. We always make sure we're there for our customers when they need us, and our commitment to responsive customer service has helped build our reputation over four decades.” INDUSTRIAL INSULATION & SHEET METAL FABRICATION Ross Insulation specialises in quality industrial and sheet metal fabrication We design, build, install and maintain major industrial insulation and sheet metal projects for customers in Northland and throughout NZ. . 09 438 5966 contact@rossinsulation.co.nz rossinsulation.co.nz “Confidence Through Quality for 40 Years”
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