| 43 T T Rosa Watson Firm enjoys boom in region’s growth The Tim Miller team. The Nelson company employs 21 plumbers, including gas fitters and drainlayers, plus office staff. Tasman: Tim Miller Plumbing REGIONAl DEVELOPMENT Sunny Nelson is drawing people from around the country to live there with its attractive lifestyle and climate, and it’s providing plenty of work for companies like Tim Miller Plumbing. The large firm, formed in the 1980s, currently employs 21 plumbers, including gas fitters and drainlayers, plus office staff. The majority of its work is in commercial work, with large clients like Nelson Hospital, where a staff member is permanently based, and local schools. Its expertise across the industry set the company apart from other plumbing firms, contracts and quotations manager Merv Ward said. “We don’t do a lot of new houses. We do big houses predominately, like designer homes or architecturally designed homes. And we do a lot of commercial work as well.” There was also a “wave of work” in rest homes where the company carried out the plumbing and continues with ongoing maintenance. A current project is a block of 30 high-end apartments being developed on Haven Road, as well as other housing developments. Nelson was becoming an increasingly desirable place to live, particularly luring North Islanders down, he said. We’ve had an absolute boom with new housing and a lot of retirement action in the last 10 years.” The city was becoming known as the “Tauranga of the south”. “I do think it’s the lifestyle and the climate, which is pretty special. And we do have pretty much any activity you want on our doorstep.” It was also enticing investors that were building apartments and other housing developments. “It’s become a bit of an investment sort of city. There’s been a bit of growth there in the last ten years.” Richmond in particular had seen large growth in the new housing market, while the inner city had seen an increase in apartment developments, something that had been great for the CBD, Merv said. “I think in the CBD, that’s what keeps it revitalised. People are inclined to walk down the road and have a beer or buy some dinner.” With a number of plumbers in the industry retiring, it was important to build up the numbers coming through, providing them the opportunity to work alongside those with experience, he said. “We have a plumber in his 60s, so he’s very valuable with his knowledge. All he does is maintenance ... and we utilise him to do a lot of training as well. “Then there’s a gap – it really goes to plumbers in their 30s and 40s.” The company currently employs seven apprentices, including a female. Some were just starting out and others had almost completed their apprenticeship, Merv said. Most come to them through the high schools. Many plumbers went out on their own, but without the valuable experience of established teams. The company had experienced fluctuations in staffing over the years, and when Merv joined in 2001 there was five staff, which grew to up to 30 staff in 2015. He reckoned they’d hit the sweet spot now. “We’re quite happy (with our staffing) for a Nelson-based company. With the way the economy is, we are trying to make sure we’ve got enough work for staff, really.” Oakleys is a proud supplier to TimMiller Plumbing Ltd Discover why Oakleys is the preferred supplier for Nelson-Tasman’s most reputable plumbing and building companies.
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