86 | Quality services keep clients happy The company offers services across residential renovations and new builds and some light commercial fit-out work. Backhouse Jones Group T T Sue Russell CONTRACTING Having known each for some time and increasingly working together on projects, Bryn Jones and Harry Backhouse decided to join forces in 2022, forming their company, Backhouse Jones Group. This allowed them to take advantage of having greater scale, and see what opportunities came their way to grow their plumbing, gas-fitting and drainage business, based on Auckland’s North Shore. “At the start it was just Harry and I, but we soon hired a couple of guys. From those formative days we’ve now got a team of seven on board, four other plumbers and a part-time administration woman,” says Bryn. Back in the day when Bryn undertook his apprenticeship, it was a four-year pathway to gain qualifications. Now that has been extended by a year to include plumbing, gas-fitting and drainage, and Bryn says this has been a good thing, providing those who qualify with plenty of scope as to what direction their trade career takes them. In the case of Backhouse Jones Group, given all three services are offered, Bryn says they are able to provide their builder clients with a complete service for builds on new sites. “We’re fortunate to have a good core of builders who we supply services to. They know the quality of our work and how that inputs value into their projects. It’s a relationship that works well.” Bryn says they base their business around offering very good service for a fair price. However, 2024 proved somewhat down and up, as it turned out. “We were quite slow around this time last year, but come July business picked up and we were flat out. We employed a couple of tradesmen to help us cope with demand.” The company offers services across residential renovations and new builds, and some light commercial fit-out work, so there’s plenty of variety. It’s one of our goals looking forward to move more towards small and mid-range commercial work.” Harry and Bryn bring complementary skills to running the company, with Harry project managing and quoting on the larger jobs, while Bryn looks further ahead in procuring new work, developing systems to support eventual company growth and managing the HR. Now in its third year of operation, Bryn says there’s definitely a will to grow the company. “We’re careful, though, not to grow too fast, but when the time is right perhaps we’ll take on an apprentice and also a project manager to free Harry and I a bit.” A key to their success to date has been building very solid relationships with a core of good builders. “We do pride ourselves on our ability to price work well in line with the quality of our work.” One project Bryn says they really enjoyed took them down to the Bay of Plenty. “We did a fit-out for Pablo’s bar and restaurant and next to that we also worked at Kneed Bakery. “Having those two projects next to each other meant we could work really efficiently. We worked with builder contractor Build Interiors on this project, which went very well.” Bryn says he and the team are really looking forward to a generally more positive and certain 2025. “Based on how the year has started for us, if this continues, we’re in for a very solid year with possible growth just around the corner.” tom@kamco.nz kamco.nz Where Vi s i on Meet s Cra f t smansh i p Newbuilds Renovations Decks & Fences Concrete Driveways Bathrooms Residential Builders Delivering bespoke homes and renovations. Mako Architecture is a vibrant architectural design studio based in Auckland, made up of multidisciplinary designers who work closely with their clients delivering projects to the highest standards. Whether it's a small bathroom alteration, a complex large new build, development or commercial fit-out we have the experience to consult, design and deliver your project. Contact us today for an initial consultation. mark@makoarchitecture.co.nz | 021 166 9205 www.makoarchitecture.co.nz
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