The construction industry is going through a turbulent time at the moment as the latest lockdown has halted the vast majority of projects around the country.
The last 12 months have not been easy for anyone in the country, but the building trade has in general avoided the brunt of the pandemic until now.
Ironically, before Covid-19 took its grip on the world, the construction industry was in a healthy state in Ireland and there is still much work to be done.
Even the most experienced of companies have not witnessed anything like is happening now as those in that category have come through numerous recessions and other setbacks and are still going strong today.
For this month’s edition of Building Ireland, we profile Martin Cussen Construction & Civil Eng Ltd, a Limerick based firm that is celebrating 50 years in business this year.
Martin Cussen Snr was like many of his generation as emigration took him to the U.K during the 1960s. Not long later and the young man was working for himself and established quite a reputable firm in the building trade.
However, the yearning to return to these shores was never far away and in 1985, Martin, his wife and family made the decision to return to Ireland. Despite this being a time of recession here and when many of that generation were leaving the country, Martin decided to set up his own building firm using the experience he had gathered in the U.K.
Many may have felt that it was a crazy decision, but Martin Snr was proven right as the company is still going strong today. In 2000, his son Martin Jnr became involved and he has brought the company forward as they specialise in construction, plant hire and steelworks with 38 employees on the books while a number of tried and trusted sub-contractors are used on a regular basis.
Based in Newcastlewest, this family run business has always placed a massive emphasis on customer satisfaction and Martin Jnr told us that is their number one goal always.
“My father always had the ethos of ensuring that the client was happy and that has not only helped our reputation, but it has been our best form of advertisement also,” stated Martin Jnr.
“Dad is still involved these days; he is a director of the company and he would come in and give us advice on a daily basis. There is no sign of him slowing down,” smiled his son.
As stated, there are three different facets to the business, construction, steelworks and plant hire.
They offer a full range of construction services to support their clients in both the Commercial and Private sectors. Their team includes highly skilled and expert industry professionals who ensure exceptional delivery for all our building and construction projects. The work involved includes demolition services, project planning, project management, full construction using all required professional trades, dealing with building regulations, following completion, creating ongoing maintenance schedules.
Their structural steel division has the experience, training and equipment to create structural steel frames quickly and efficiently as well being fully qualified to the industry CE mark standard. They are accustomed to the need to erect these structures on very busy sites as cost effectively as possible. They offer a complete design, build and installation service to meet all your requirements. On site, they can assemble any structure in a fast and efficient manner and can undertake any modifications as needed.
The plant hire division sees the company offer for hire a wide range of mobile and construction equipment. They invest resources in equipment annually to ensure their client base is supplied with safe and reliable equipment, which includes Excavators (0.5tonnne -30tonne), Dozers, Teleporters, Dumpers, Forklifts, Mobile Cranes, Compressors and Breakers, Fuel Bowsers, Water Bowsers, Rollers and much more.
“The structural steel division is the latest service to be provided by us. We found that to offer a complete range of services, we needed to include this, and we are happy with the way that it has been integrated into the business.
“We can take a green field site and bring the project through to completion with the services that we provide. This removes a lot of stress for the client who then doesn’t need to be chasing different contractors as we look after everything.”
The company has been very successful over the years as they have been involved in hundreds of projects, while all the time leaving the client hugely satisfied.
Martin stated that they have a lot of repeat custom, which indicates that they are doing the work to the standard required and the company MD added that none of this would be possible without a reliable workforce.
“We’re fortunate to have a very experienced team here, many of the lads would be with us years, while the same could be said about a lot of the sub-contractors. It is hard to get skilled workers these days, so it is important to hold on to the guys that you have and look after them.”
Martin Cussen Construction & Civil Eng Ltd can call on a number of blue chip clients as some of their loyal customers down through the years.
“We do a lot of repeat work and despite the current lockdown, we still have a few essential projects ongoing at the moment, so that will keep us going and hopefully everything will be opened up very soon.”
Martin Cussen Construction’s Health & Safety policy and management approach is based on working to the maximum level that is laid down by law and to always work within the clients Health & Safety rules and procedures.
The approach also incorporates teamwork and supervision which is driven by the belief that we all have a right to a safe and healthy work environment. Our goal is to consistently provide our staff and workforce with the training, instruction, information and equipment they need to carry out their work safely in a manner that ensures everyone’s safety and health.
“We as an organization revolve everything on health and safety of our employees, we are a 2nd generation company and can’t emphasis enough the importance and the reasonability’s we take of our employees. “Safety isn’t expensive it’s priceless”.”
Martin concluded by stating that he hopes the future is bright but added that we could be in for some lean times in the next year or so as the effects of the pandemic hit home.
“Work wise, it is as busy as the Celtic Tiger, whether that is sustainable, I’m not so sure. I don’t think there will be a collapse like there was at the start of the last recession, but there has to be some sort of comeback from the last 12 months.
“I’ve a son Martin, he is only four years old, but hopefully one day, he will take over the business. We have been in business many years and we look forward to being here for many more, despite what may be in front of us.”
Contact Details:
Martin Cussen Construction & Civil Eng Ltd
Castlelands Business Park
Ballinvullin
Newcastle West
Co. Limerick
V42 KF99
T: 087 2516235
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, May, Vol 7 No 5
