Business Rural Winter 2021

68 | RURAL SERVICES » Mitchell Bros Sawmilling “Sawmilling is a competitive game. Logs are bought for roughly the same price and timber is sold for roughly the same price but it’s about what you do in the middle that counts,” says Brad. And while Covid meant close attention to how staff worked on site, the huge demand from the construction sector for timber means that business is busier than ever, with no sign of slowing down. “We have 27 full time staff members who we are very proud of. Over 50% of them have been with us for 10 years or more and they contribute greatly to our success introducing the high quality products we are well known for. It gives us great satisfaction in seeing people upskilling and moving their way up through the company as they gain experience and take on more responsibility,”says Scott. “What we consider as one of our strengths is that we have always run the business with a hands-on approach. We are working alongside our staff and we see our product every day which means we get a real feel for the quality of product we are produc- ing as well as mixing with our staff and getting a sense of the culture we are trying to create. I am always a big believer in not giving someone a job that you are not willing to do yourself,” said Scott. Asked what the longevity and success of the business comes down to Tony says the decision to “stick to what we do well” has proven important. “We’ve been on the same site all this time and our customers know what we do and do well.” Brad says “the site is fairly well maxed-out in terms of volumes it’s producing.” He feels the future is more about tweaking production systems to improve efficiencies” “We have always had an open-mind to looking at ways we can improve,” he says. Staff retention points to a business that priori- tises looking after its people. “We’re very proud of our contribution to our community and helping people get started in their working life. The fact that so many choose to stay working in the business shows the positive culture we have been trying to create over a number of years.” For more information on this business visit mitchellbros.co.nz • from page 67 ‘Hands-on approach’ a strength of sawmilling business Sawmill, plant and saw sharpening at Mitchell Bros Sawmilling’s Darfield base. dĂŶĂůŝƚŚΠ ǁŽŽĚ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ dĂŶĂůŝƐĞĚΠ ƚƌĞĂƚĞĚ ƟŵďĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐLJŵďŽů ĨŽƌ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞ͕ ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƚƌƵƐƚĞĚ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ǁŽŽĚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ŝŶ EĞǁ ĞĂůĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ϳϬ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ tanalisedinformation.oceania@lonza.com www.lonzawoodprotection.com/apac/ Tanalith and Tanalised are registered trademarks of Lonza or its subsidiaries. © Lonza 2021 /ƚƐ Ăůů ĂďŽƵƚ͘͘͘ ^ƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƐƚ ŽĨ ƟŵĞ͘ ✓ >ŽŐƐ͕ ƉŽƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ✓ ^ŽůŝĚ ǁŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ ƟŵďĞƌ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ Lonza Wood Protection is committed to our ongoing partnership with Mitchell Bros Sawmill, suppliers of sapstain protected products, H1.2 treated framing and H3.2, H4 and H5 Tanalised ® treated products. H3.2 H4 H5 DARFIELD You can now conveniently get your Farm Shed Buildings from the same place you get your building gear for your farm, right here at Darfield ITM. We supply quality building materials for rural, utility or light industrial building at competitive prices. Heartland Sheds only uses the highest quality of materials combined with design principles that make their sheds truly engineered to perform under all conditions. Proud to support Mitchell Bros Sawmillers ITM DARFIELD: Ph: 03 318 74 74 | www.darfielditm.co.nz HEARTLAND SHEDS: 85 North Terrace, Darfield | 0800 887 474 info@heartlandsheds.co.nz | www.heartlandsheds.co.nz GABLE SHEDS | CLASSIC LEAN-TO SHEDS | AMERICAN BARNS GROUP No1 FOR POSTS AND TIMBER Suppliers of: Posts, Poles, Piles, Farm buildings, Dog Motels Small Buildings, Concrete Troughs, Building Supplies Wooden Gates, Fencing Supplies 0800 4posts (0800 476787) www.greatsouthern.net.nz