plant and equipment but also in systems and people. Construction Zone prides itself on strong financial management and a conservative, sustainable approach to growth. “Our external accountants – one of the top four firms in Australia – have told us that the net profit we achieve on our turnover is higher than some of their clients turning over $100 million,” Chait shares. “At that scale, margins are razor thin. We can be slightly higher, while still being very competitive, and that gives us a better result at the end of the day.” The company occupies around 380 square metres of office space under a recently renewed lease, and the leadership team is deliberately cautious about rapid expansion. Modest staff growth of 10–15 percent is on the table over the next few years, but there is no rush to become a significantly larger organisation. “Do we want to get real big? Probably not,” Gathercole admits.“We’re at a good size.The question is whether we add another project manager and coordinator when things are hectic, knowing the market can ease in three months. For now, we’re more focused on motivating the team, rewarding high performance, and delivering great outcomes so our clients stay with us.” 19 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 11 CONSTRUCTION ZONE
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