Business North November 2021

28 | Shawn Williamson Building Ltd REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Training the next generation a focus T T Sue Russell Te Puke-based Shawn Williamson Building is currently constructing four large cool stores for DMS Progrowers. Katikati Scaffolding Mark 021609509 Murray 0210607593 2017 Ltd katiscaff@gmail.com F or Te Puke-based Shawn Williamson, a key-driver in setting up his own building business was that this would give him more control over the whole build process. “I was getting sick of relying on other peo- ple. It’s hard to coordinate jobs when every- one is busy so now I have a company that can handle the major components of a build.” Today, Shawn Williamson Building Ltd, has a team of 42 staff, across construction, kitchen, joinery, painting and plumbing divisions. The building, painting and plumbing divisions op- erate from the company’s King St base while kitchen and joinery work from Jellicoe Street. Projects extend over a large geographic, from Hamilton, Cambridge to Thames across all forms of building activity; residential, com- mercial, industrial, rural, new builds, altera- tions and repairs. Based in the Bay of Plenty, Shawn also provides building services to the horticulture sector. When Covid first appeared last year, given the essential nature of the fruit produc- tion industry, Shawn was able to continue to offer his services; building about 2000 kiwifruit screens. Shawn says Te Puke is a great town to be based in – handy in terms of location to major centres and when Business North caught up with Shawn early October, he was confident about the amount of projects he had on the go continuing into the foreseeable future. “We’re the largest company by far in this town and we’ve been operating so long now, that we’ve built up a strong core of clients. We are very busy at the moment and Covid hasn’t really impacted on us that much.” A large project constructing four cool-stores for DMS Progrowers, Te Matai Road, had just got underway and was progressing well. The cool-stores are on track to be completed in March 2022. “I’ve got 10 guys working on that project at the moment. I’ve done all their cool stores to date.” Asked what he puts the success of his com- pany down to Shawn says it’s two important fundamentals. “You have to get the right people working for you, who work well with our culture and expectation of high standards and you have to take good care of your clients.” Offering the range of services he does ensures there is ongoing work throughout the year. The company also employs a Quantity Surveyor and administration staff who look after health and safety and other complianc- es. Shawn Williamson’s Kitchen and Joinery division has a fully equipped workshop offer - ing CNC machining services. Apprentices are a constant within the staff make up with up to eight employed at any given time. “I think it’s important that key businesses within construction, such as ours, are always training up the next generation of builders and tradesmen. “There’s a big shortage across the whole sector for qualified staff so this constant train - ing is really important.” Shawn intends to remain at the helm of his company for some years to come. He’s ac- crued a strong team around him and is happy with what he has achieved since establishing the business. “I am happy now with the size of the busi- ness staying about where it is at. It means we can respond well to demand for our services and ensure work is completed to schedule.”