| 89 We specialise in waterproo ng commercial, industrial and residential buildings and worksites, new and existing. (R3) Roof Membrane (R4) Liquid Roof Membrane (R5) Torch On Roof Membrane BUILDING Mitchell Builders Flexibility key to builder’s success Sue Russell Mitchell Builders has a team of 8 builders, usually working on two or three projects at a time. Terry Jones, Ops Manager, at Whangarei-based building business Mitchell Builders, says he was attracted to the role, he took up 2 ½ years ago, because of the strong family-based values the company works to. “It permeates all parts of the way we work and is the reason Mitchell Builders is a multi-generational company.” Offering design and build services across new residential, commercial and additions/ alterations Mitchell Builders has a team of 8 builders, usually working on two or three projects at a time. Supporting the company is an administration manager who works with Terry at the company’s show-room in Whangarei, while owner/director John Mitchell straddles his time between Mitchell Builders and Heritage Homes, a company specialising in building villas and bungalows. Being nimble and adapting to changes in trends in the property market are key to thriving in these challenging times, says Terry. He says the current size of the company reflects this. “We tend to reflect how the sector is operating in this region. Sometimes breathing in and sometimes breathing out, in terms of the size of the team.” Demand has been high for new builds, prompted in part by a significant number of Aucklanders choosing to sell-up and shift north, to a more relaxed life-style with more space. Whangarei is predicted to double in size in the next 10 years and Terry says, given this, there is much-needed work to happen developing infrastructure to support this future growth. COVID supply chain issues have certainly presented as increasing challenges and Terry says Mitchell Builders’ success at navigating these waters has come down to effective planning and understanding necessary timeframes. “You used to be able to wake up in the morning, go down to your supplier and pick up what you wanted for a build, but now you can’t do that and that requires forward thinking. Our clients understand that we have no control over some material supply realities and we’re doing the best we can to complete projects to schedule. Maintaining great communication through the build really supports this.” Given the nature of projects Mitchell Builders takes on, Terry says the emphasis is always on allowing the craftmanship of the work their builders excel in to shine. That was certainly the case with the Tutukaka Coast project. And looking ahead, the company is fully committed to growing the next generation of builder. Offering apprenticeships is an essential part of this responsibility. “We currently have some builders toward the twilight of their careers and what we need to ensure happens is that young people coming into the building trades have the opportunity to learn from these masters.” Three apprentices are currently engaged in training at Mitchell Builders. They are seen very much as an investment. To find future builders Terry says they often go to the Foundation training course year, conducted at NorthTech. “We find this works well, as they have had a taste of what working on a building site is all about and the equipment used. We also have an older apprentice who is working on his business degree and just really enjoys building.” Mitchell Builders concentrates its projects mainly in the Whangarei and surrounds areas, though will travel further afield for special projects, such as one client who owns a church and are building a new meeting house in Paihia. “We need to ensure that young people coming into the building trades have the opportunity to learn from these masters.”
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