72 | nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Archway Group Putting its people first key to success Alexia Johnston Archway Group is continuing to put its people first, with a strong belief that its workforce are the cornerstone of the company’s success. The organisation prides itself on farm construction, specialising in concrete infrastructure from silage bunkers to herd barns, thanks to cutting-edge technology and a team of “hard working good buggers”. Amanda and Matt Hodgson launched the business to benefit the NZ dairy sector and along the way have embraced an inspiring team culture. “It’s not easy work, so that’s why we like to invest back into the team, we do this in various ways,” Amanda said. While many similar companies employ a lot of people, Archway Group keeps to a small team of less than 15. It means they can pay them well and invest in the best tools and plant, while continuing to develop systems to allow efficiency. The team also receives a cooked meal each day, using meat and veges grown by Amanda and Matt. And, with a staff of “awesome” hunters, there’s never a shortage of venison and fish on the menu either. The team also has a site trailer to house a fridge, freezer, toasty makers, barbecue, hot and cold water, and shade. Investing in the team to such an extent makes sense to Amanda and Matt. “When you have a business like ours, it really is super hard physical labour for the team.” Working with concrete daily has its extremes, and is often done during long, hot and dusty days where breaks can’t take place due to the risk of cold joins. As a result, they sometimes pour up to 200 cubic metres, which is equivalent to 40 concrete trucks, depending on the product they are installing. Investing in equipment is also vital to the business. Last October they imported a machine from Italy to assist with cutting and bending steel, which has reduced time and waste. “We used to buy 750 x 6m lengths per week, now we buy this in 1.5km coils, type into the machine what we want and it runs its schedule. It’s so simple that I, too, can go out into the factory, and run the machine and pack it into its bundles for the next job, or the next batch of concrete panels.” Back in 2013, their first weeping wall took them six to eight weeks, a job that now takes four to five days, providing efficiency and a reduced cost to the farmer. Matt spends a lot of time visiting farmers, learning what they want to achieve and discussing their plans, ensuring future developments coincide with existing infrastructure. Once the farmer is happy with the plan, Amanda prices the job, making it clear, concise, transparent and a true cost of the project, with little or no variation. As Amanda and Matt look to the future, their same values will remain – adding further value to the agriculture sector, while demonstrating that investing in their workforce isn’t just a philosophy, but a proven pathway to success. Archway Group specialises concrete infrastructure, from silage bunkers to herd barns. EMPIRE CONCRETE PUMPING OPERATES WITHIN COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND DOMESTIC. NO JOB IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! GET IN TOUCH 756 Bond Rd Te Awamutu, 3880 | 0272710054 | nick@empireconcrete.co.nz | www.empireconcretepumping.co.nz
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