NEWS & BLOGS

Connell Contractors were big winners at the 2018 Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) Conference held at Hamilton’s Claudelands Events Centre on Friday August 3.

The progressive Hamilton-based company was recognised for their efforts in the training space, picking up a CCNZ / Connexis Company Training Development Award. The award recognises Connell Contractors’ dedication to building a strong team and the commitment to ongoing education and training opportunities for all their staff. CCNZ Past President and Connell Contractors Principal Dave Connell’s personal commitment to training extended to his own development when he became a Certified Civil Trades person earlier this year.

The company has 35 staff who are encouraged to complete training, whether it be an apprenticeship or CPD for the professional staff. “A third of our staff are currently in training as apprentices,” said Connell Contractors’ Principal, Dave Connell. “The Civil Trades qualifications our staff are working towards includes pipeline installation and maintenance, plant operation and structural concrete. All our Apprentices have NCEA level 3 or Tertiary study. We would not be able to attract them without offering a trade qualification.”

Alongside this, Connells has spent much time nationally promoting the Civil Trades, with the company fostering relationships with organisations such as the Southern Initiative to get young people into work.

Both Dave Connell and wife Margo were also recognised with individual awards for their contribution to the industry.

Dave Connell was made a Life Member of the Civil Contractors New Zealand organisation, which was in recognition of his work consolidating industry organisations and efforts in establishing the Civil Trades qualification. Margo Connell was also presented with a Service to Industry award for her contribution to CCNZ.

“This type of recognition is great and is a nice by-product of what we do,” explained Dave. “But it’s not why we’re here. We believe in employing skilled and talented people, giving them the training and support they need, then trusting them to get on and produce top quality work.

“That gives Margo and I immense satisfaction.”

“At Connell Contractors, we strongly believe in a culture of teamwork and training as our staff have been one of the main reasons for our on-going success,” said Margo Connell. “We put company culture alongside business strategy.

“I think we recognised earlier than most the need to embrace diversity in the workforce. This stemmed from our experience working in the Christchurch rebuild where there was high demand for experienced staff.”

Alongside Connells’ skilled and long-term workforce, the company has employed staff from a wide variety of nationalities. “These people bring new ideas, a willingness to learn and a contribution to the culture that makes Connell Contractors a great place to work,” explained Dave Connell.  “An important KPI for our foreign staff is to train young Kiwi’s.”

Connell Contractors operates throughout the North Island and is noted for working on projects with a degree of difficulty, or in high compliance environments, especially deep wet pipelines, marine work, shoring and dewatering, power reticulation and construction of multi-storey buildings in electrical switchyards.

Pictured below (left to right): Brian Warren (CCNZ President), Margo Connell and Dave Connell after Margo and Dave received their Service to Industry Award and CCNZ Life Membership respectively. Photo: CCNZ.