| 95 T T Hugh de Lacy Builders prepared to tackle anything Bigwood Builders operates throghout the greater Warkworth area, specialiisng in residential and light-commercial builds. Bigwood Builders BUILDING Being a country boy, Mike Bigwood wasn’t too keen on living in Auckland for the five years needed to get an architectural degree from the University of Auckland, and so after three years he switched to the practical side of the industry. Rather than a university degree, Mike completed a building apprenticeship in 2007 with Rod Cooper Construction, based in the village of Leigh on the coast north of Auckland. And he showed his flair for the hands-on side of the construction industry when in that year he landed the Master Builders Federation’s Auckland Apprentice of the Year Award. Then, having barely come out of his time, he established Bigwood Builders, working out of a barn at Matakana. He began in the standard way of taking on renovations and alterations, while setting his sights on the big architectural builds that would eventually come his way. The Apprentice of the Year Award gave him a head start, with potential clients recognising him as a skilled operator whose quality could be relied on. Today, Bigwood Builders boasts a staff of 15 operating in four teams all round the greater Warkworth area, revelling in the range of residential and light-commercial builds it attracts. A recent light-commercial project was a 1000sqm 4-Square store at Snell’s Beach, one of that company’s biggest builds in the country. At the same time, Bigwood Builders has a big renovation and re-clad on the Omaha Beach-front, along with various other builds on the Matakana Coast. Serving as Mike’s second-in-command is Ben Wyatt, a former globe-trotter, who worked on super yachts around the world, at the same time developing a passion for construction design, which he expresses particularly in his creation of attractive outdoor spaces. “We take on anything and everything that the market throws at us, whether it be a new deck or a complete new build we always love the challenge,” Mike says. “This past year has been a quiet one, because high interest rates have deterred people from investing in construction, and it’s really only those who have cash in hand that have been keeping us going. “We particularly enjoy the architectural new builds that come our way, and the commercial projects like the 4-Square store at Snells Beach, but we’re prepared to tackle anything, and our reputation for delivering quality completions has stood us in good stead.” Mike says the first stirrings of a recovery in the industry after the slump of the past couple of years are just beginning to show through with a slight increase in the level of client inquiry. “It’s possible that the Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate cut will encourage more people to borrow to build, especially if it manages a further cut or two before Christmas.” If that proves to be the case, Mike and Bigwood Builders are nicely positioned to expand their operation and crank up their staff numbers to meet the recovering market. Proud to be supporting Bigwood Builders Daniel Budgen: 027233772 | Pete Coombe: 0212965128 Email: admin@mce.co.nz www.matakanacoastelectrical.co.nz • Architectural Residential • Domestic • Commercial • Industrial • Mains Runs • Alterations • Repairs Proudly supporting Bigwood Builders Covering Matakana, Omaha, Warkworth, Leigh, Kaipara, Mangawhai
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