Business South May 2021

| 89 Strong values underpin firm’s success T T Russell Fredric Harding Construction’s portfolio of completed work covers a comprehensive range of commercial, industrial and residential projects: above, fixing portals in place at Temuka’s Opihi College, below modernising the Life Church in Timaru. BUILDING South Canterbury - Harding Construction Call us today 0800 4 NEXUS | office@nexusgroup.nz Covering all Plumbing, Drainage and Roofing requirements in the wider South Canterbury area. s e r v i c e s Project Management Developments Plumbing Drainage Roofing Maintenance Certifying Plumber Certifying Drainlayer Ph: (03) 688 53 58 WWW.AOTEAELECTRIC.CO.NZ • ELECTRIC • COMMUNICATIONS • SECURITY • FIRE • DOMESTIC • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • HEAT PUMPS • THERMAL IMAGING • INSPECTIONS D elivering on time, on budget with no surprises and a strong community conscience is at the heart of Harding Construction’s every day business. Owned by husband and wife team Simon and Heather Harding, the Timaru-based company has garnered an impressive array of both building industry and business awards in recent years. After establishing the business eight years ago Simon and Heather decided conducting business ‘on time, on budget with no surpris- es’ would be the foundation they would build the business on. “All company activity is measured against these goals and values. This ensures success- ful project management and delivery as well as effective in-house operations and a positive work environment,” Heather says. “We figured these three things would be our point of difference. “Our intention is that the experience of working with us will be positive, efficient and professional.” Their total commitment to delivering on these values has seen Harding Construction win two commercial awards and three busi- ness awards. In 2016 it won Special and Bronze awards at the Master Builders Commercial Project Awards, Best Company Culture Award at the 2017 Asia Pacific Business Excellence Forum and was a finalist in the 2016 South Canter- bury Business Excellence Awards. The Asia Pacific Business Excellence Award was attended by 90 businesses from Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand with companies ranging in size from small busi- nesses to large, multi-franchise companies. Heather says a strong commitment from Harding Construction’s staff and “a wonderful network” of contractors and suppliers has contributed to their company’s successes. “They are loyal to us and we are loyal to them; we all support each other. To coin a phrase, no business is an island. You can’t be successful in any industry without a great network around you.” Harding Construction is associated with Coresteel Buildings, having taken on the South Canterbury Coresteel franchise for which Heather is marketing manager, in 2013. Coresteel offers high quality, cost-effective steel buildings; its innovative tapered box beam technology is ideal for large commer- cial, industrial and agricultural buildings requiring clear-span spaces. Like Harding Construction, the franchise has a strong focus on community which includes an innovation award for year 12 and 13 school pupils. As with much of New Zealand, the local construction industry is very busy, a situation Heather attributes to a diverse local economy, low interest rates and, because of Covid-19, people spending on house upgrades rather than overseas travel. Harding Construction’s portfolio of com- pleted work covers a comprehensive range of commercial, industrial and residential projects in addition to schools and churches which particularly appreciate the company’s “good honest service” and communication. Life Church, Timaru, was one that entrusted Harding Construction to undertake a ma- jor modernisation; the church’s budgeting process for the project began seven years ago, a prime example of how early contractor involvement by Harding Construction was of great benefit to the client. “It all comes down to knowing why we do what we do,” Heather says. “At Harding Construction, we love building things; building dreams, building pride, build- ing communities, building the future. “The buildings we construct will stand for years to come, each one a testament to some- one’s vision, effort and commitment to tomor- row. We are proud to make that happen.”