| 45 CONTRACTING RJ Civil Construction Richard Loader Positive culture drives business RJ Civil Construction has embedded a culture of over-delivering to clients, while training, developing and creating career pathways for staff. In a labour market stretched to the end of its tether, and where staff are ready and willing to jump ship to chase the dollar, successful employers recognise the power of team culture and creating career pathways within their businesses. Having recently celebrated the milestone of ten years in business, South Island operator RJ Civil Construction has embedded a culture of over-delivering to its clients, while training, developing and challenging the people who are the face of the business. “In recent times there has been a significant change in people’s attitudes towards work, especially with the younger people,” says John Airey, who co-founded the business when he recognised a market opportunity for a mid-sized civil contractor specialising in civil structures and pavement construction. “Once upon a time staff would look at what they could do for the business, now they look at what the business will do for them. We’re very picky in who we employ. “Most of our team members have come through word of mouth from rugby teams or just leaving school, and we’ve been able to offer them a really good career pathway and good opportunities. “The sector can do that; it’s so varied and can go in so many different ways. Some of our people have come from not knowing what they want to do and are now completing their civil engineering degrees. Most of our people are trade cert qualified and go through to foreman roles.” What is really important to John is the positive culture that thrives within his business. He says that culture is from giving back to those who work hard within the business. \ “They’re the ones at the coal face, making the money for you, dealing with the clients and creating the culture of the business. “They’re the face of the business and you have to reward them accordingly and offer a good career path to being successful within the industry. “Our foremen are out there in the trenches on the shovels as much as running the jobs, driving the trucks and machines and that’s part of our culture.” Christchurch based, RJ Civil Contracting has evolved as a team of 45 undertaking projects throughout the South Island and John says having a team willing and capable of working away from home and family is one of the company’s key strengths. “Our core customers are the Councils, private developers and some of the tier one contractors. We do a lot of work for Fulton Hogan, Fletcher’s, Downer, and HEB Construction. We have the confidence that we have the right people who will deliver when they’re working away in isolated areas. That, and over-delivering on projects, really has been the key to success. I always say to the team, just imagine you were paying the bill for a service. It’s often the little things that the clients don’t expect but that you deliver for them that creates that feeling of goodwill and that they’re getting value for money.” A civil engineer by profession with many years working for tier one civil contractors, John’s decision to specialise between civil structures and pavement construction, and not be a generalist contractor, has enabled a solutions focus for projects. “It was important to us to be able to offer a complete package and potentially go to clients with alternatives to what they were originally thinking. “There’s always more than one way to look at how to approach a project, even if you do go back to the original idea after considering the alternatives. “It was also about looking after the project from the initial enabling-works, to the design phase to the actual physical construction of the works, right through to sign off, and helping the client save money that way.” Keeping it Local. Picton ITM - proud to supply local businesses like RJ Civil Construction. For all your trade, timber, plumbing supplies & more, we’ll see you right. 03 573 6888 5 York Street, Picton www.itm.co.nz/stores/picton-itm SUPPLIERS OF EARTHMOVING AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH RJ CIVIL CONSTRUCTION HIRE IT. LEASE IT. COUNT ON IT. 0800 225 001
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