116 | Prospects look bright for 2025 The 664 George Street project comprises nine, one-bedroom apartments. T T from page 114 BuildSmart Otago BUILDING He is pleased with the calibre of apprentice they have on board at the moment – a couple of young guys very keen to learn. Putting them under the umbrella of a senior carpenter and giving them lots of different situations to work in, is the best way they can learn well Glen believes. “We often take on guys who have done a pre-trade course, so they’ve had some experience of basic carpentry and what’s involved to a degree. Each young person is different though, in terms of how they learn best.” When a project is underway, another focus is to educate clients and to keep them up to date with progress as it unfolds. “We achieve this with a YouTube channel we have. We send out video updates through a build, and it’s a good way to keep them engaged. It helps connect a lot of our investors as we do a lot of work with investors based overseas, who cannot visit the site in person. It’s a really good way to be transparent, so if any issues do arise, they understand what we’ve encountered and how we’re dealing with it.” Glen acknowledges that BuildSmart Otago wouldn’t be the company it is today, without the excellent work delivered on its projects by its subcontractors, many of whom have long-standing service relationships with the company. Examples of projects the team has been involved in can be viewed on the BuildSmart website. Dunedin has its fair share of old housing stock and recent changes in council zoning rules are allowing for increased intensification. Given this, Glen says there is a positive future ahead for property developers in the city. He sees this as a good thing and a way of rejuvenating parts of the city that have historical value but have fallen into disrepair. He is optimistic that the markets the company services will continue to pick up as this year comes to an end, and into next year. “With the lowering of interest rates it will make access to funding easier and those investors and the like who have been hesitating will begin to take on projects. “All in all, we’re happy with our situation and we’re certainly looking forward to what 2025 has to bring.” Oakleys is a proud supplier to BuildSmart Otago Ltd Get in touch with us today and discover why the experts at Oakleys Plumbing Supplies are the preferred supplier for many of Dunedin’s most reputable building and plumbing companies. WANAKA ALEXANDRA Dunedin | 03 488 2881 dunedin@freemanroofing.co.nz www.freemanroofing.co.nz 65 Main South Road, Green Island, Dunedin 9018 Proud supplier of quality roofing products to BuildSmart Otago Ltd
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