have become hallmarks of its work. BALANCING CHALLENGES WITH LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS Working across retirement living, disability housing, and government projects brings both challenges and opportunities. Metcalf is quick to point out that the communities they serve – older residents, people living with disability, and tenants in social housing – often sit at the more vulnerable end of the spectrum. That reality shapes how the business operates and the standards it sets for itself. One of the biggest priorities is continuity. The firm has worked hard to build a stable, loyal workforce and a tightly knit network of subcontractors. In an industry where labour shortages and turnover are constant talking points, this company stands out for its longevity of relationships. Employees tend to stay. Subcontractors have been with the team for many years, often becoming part of the extended business family. “We’re very fortunate that we don’t have a high turnover,” Metcalf says.“Our clients deal with us year in, year out, and they like to see the same faces.They know the quality of work they’re going to get. So we put a lot of energy into maintaining that continuity.” In-house, the team has grown to around thirty to thirty-five people, with three new site staff recently coming on board, and regular access to approximately fifty subcontractors. Maintaining clear sector specialisation within that network is key. Trades working on disability projects, for example, stay within that niche, because the builds are highly specialised and demanding. The same applies to retirement village work and government contracts. That segmentation allows the team to deliver consistency for clients while giving subcontractors confidence that their expertise is recognised and valued. There is also an explicit commitment from the company not to constantly pit its subcontractors against outside bidders purely on price. If new firms approach seeking work, they will be considered carefully, but loyalty is a two-way street: existing subcontractors are expected to deliver high 26 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 12
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