| 55 CONTRACTING The Bricklaying Company SPECIALISTS IN BRICKS, BLOCKS, STONE & OAMARU STONE CONTACT NEIL BLAKEMORE 027 462 9191 T T Kelly Deeks Bricklayer builds a ‘family’ business The Bricklaying Company employs 14 staff and completes residential, commercial, restoration, and specialist masonry projects throughout Canterbury and beyond. A former butcher, who took a significant pay cut to learn bricklaying, has built one of Canterbury’s most respected masonry businesses, creating a workplace centred on loyalty, second chances, and longterm careers. Managing director, Neil Blakemore, founded The Bricklaying Company in 2010 and has now spent more than 25 years in the masonry industry. Today, the company employs 14 staff and completes residential, commercial, restoration, and specialist masonry projects throughout Canterbury and beyond. Neil’s journey into bricklaying began after a decade working as a butcher. “I had a tough childhood and was given nothing,” Neil says. “The one thing my father taught me was how to work hard and make better decisions in life.” Growing tired of working in a white-walled room all day, he became interested in bricklaying after meeting a tradesman and learning what he was earning in the masonry industry. For the next few days on his way home from work, Neil would stop at a local subdivision and watch the bricklayers, before approaching the site manager. “I said, ‘I can do that as well.’ Three months later he rang me and offered me a six- week trial for $10 an hour. I could either make it or break it. Within six weeks I was bricking houses on my own and I never looked back.” He credits mentors for helping shape his career, including an almost-retired bricklayer with more than 50 years of experience, who passed on valuable knowledge and skills. Those experiences helped form the culture Neil has worked hard to create within The Bricklaying Company. “It’s not my company anymore. It’s everyone’s,” he says. “We are a big family. We care about each other, support each other, and look after each other.” That approach has resulted in strong staff retention, with several employees spending more than a decade with the business. One long-serving team member, Shannon Martin-Hemana, is now a shareholder, and continues to increase his stake in the company. “Shannon is an absolute asset to the company. He brings a lot of experience to the trade and he’s really great with people, for the benefit of both our staff and our clients.” Neil says creating opportunities for staff to progress is just as important as delivering quality workmanship. “We spend a third of our lives with the people we work with. You want people to get out of bed and actually want to come to work.” The company also prides itself on giving people second chances and helping them rebuild confidence and stability through meaningful work. “There are people who have had a rough run, or made bad decisions,” says Neil. “If you’ve got the right attitude and you’re willing to work hard, we’ll support you 100 percent, and your family. “Your family has to be good for you to be good.” While demand for quality masonry work remains strong, attracting young people into the trade remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges. So The Bricklaying Company continues to invest in training. One employee, who started with Neil at 15 years old, remains with the business more than 20 years later, and his son has recently begun an apprenticeship, also at the age of 15. The company is also a strong supporter of the Master Brick and Blocklayers Federation. “They proactively ensure the trade is kept to a high standard and help businesses like ours succeed,” says Neil. As it gets more into commercial projects, The Bricklaying Company has responded to the demands of that sector with the recent launch of a new website, showcasing its projects, services, and team, who Neil says take pride in being featured.
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