“My father (also Vincent) was a builder many years ago, so I suppose you could say building is in the blood.” – Vincent Talbot
Vinny Talbot is the owner and founder of Talbot Building & Civil Engineering. Vinny and his wife Kay run the company along with their eight employees. They specialise in everything ranging from groundworks and site development, through demolition, sports ground development, grab and plant hire all the way to paving and tarmacadam, making them one of the most diverse construction companies operating out of Kildare and Leinster today.
“Shortly after coming home from working abroad, I started out with a pick-up truck and a mini-digger. Extensions and renovations – our very first job was an extension in Raheny, paving work, small jobs, we took anything we could get. Myself, a wheel barrow and a shovel. And we went from there.”
In 2003 after Vinny came back from working abroad in construction he established the Talbot Building and Civil Engineering Company. Talbot became a limited company in 2007 after a period of steady growth and diverse expansion. Growth was achieved through repeat business, past client recommendations, and proactively seeking out new opportunities in Kildare, Dublin and throughout Leinster. But then in 2009, well we all know what happened in construction in those years. Talbot was no different.
“We were doing okay until the end of 2009 when the downturn started to bite hard and forced us to downsize. 2012 was the toughest year of the recession for us, but we stuck at it and turned the corner in 2013. Every year since then things have improved, but there’s still a lot of competition out there and you have to fight for everything.”
One aspect of the company’s plan to return to growth was establishing strong relationships with leading building contractors. Talbot is currently providing the complete groundwork package for Townlink Construction on the refurbishment, alteration and fit out of the former Richmond Hospital Building, North Brunswick Street, Dublin. The project is the new INMO teaching and training facility, Talbot has already worked with Townlink on several previous projects in the housing, pharmaceutical and health care sectors. Talbot’s multiple offerings enable them to compete for projects large and small.
“The challenges of working in Dublin City? “Parking, tight access, getting stuff in and out of sites, logistical coordination is part of the job, we enjoy working in the city, and we just get the job done.”
Vinny sees their core business as groundworks/civil engineering and site development, he spent his time abroad working on groundworks, he knows it well. Talbots Civil Engineering Division has carried out ground works and site development on projects from small restricted access sites to large scale projects in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. On their website and resume the list of services provided demonstrates the strengths of Talbot.
Over the last few years Talbot has added new specialisations, one in particular, sports ground development, has enabled them to break new ground and open new markets. Talbot was the main contractor on the Leixlip Amenities Centre where the scope of works included two new five a side pitches, two new tennis courts, a large car park, flood lighting, fencing and the associated drainage.
Talbot now has the expertise and the experience to deliver any sports’ project on time and within budget. Whether football pitches, tennis courts, all weather surfaces, playgrounds/parks, cycle paths, hard and soft landscaping, clubhouse construction, drainage, fencing, lighting and ducting, carpark construction and renovation, Talbot Construction is able and ready to deliver.
“A strong focus on customer satisfaction, health & safety and a hands-on approach have been key to us getting the work. We work well with our customers, and as part of a team. We have a great team of people working with us who go above & beyond to meet our clients’ expectations and get the job done in a safe & efficient manner. We’re priced competitively and strive for fairness all round.”
When it comes to demolition Talbot has it covered, from internal strip outs to complete building demolition. Recycling and efficiency are part of their strategy with detailed method statements and risk assessments provided by Vinny and his team to ensure the maximum amount of material is recycled in the most efficient manner possible. Included in their demolition services are;
“We have a wide selection of plant for hire, including track machines ranging from 3 to 20 tonne, micro and mini-diggers, rollers and compacting equipment along with grab and tipper trucks. When we’re not able to carry out the repairs ourselves, we send the plant to FJS Plant in Naas and the trucks to PJ Tougher in Straffan,” Vinny explains.
“We have found keeping our equipment well maintained pays dividends in the long run.”
Talbot has a fleet of small diggers, track machines and dumpers to complement its grab hire service. All of these can be supplied with an experienced licensed operator or on a self-drive basis, further advancing the message, that whatever you need, Talbot can supply it, or do it for you.
Vinny and his team provide a domestic and industrial tarmacadam service throughout Dublin, Kildare and Leinster as a whole. Talbot can produce cobblelock or concrete paving, tarmacadam or asphalt (machine or hand laid).
Talbot did the groundworks for Glengolden Builders on an eight-unit residential development in Celbridge. Their civil division has seen much of their growth since they turned the corner in 2013. Talbot’s flexibility is one of their strengths, when the civil engineering opportunities began to appear in 2013 they manoeuvred their company in that direction.
As well as running Talbot Building & Civil Engineering, Vinny and Kay have recently begun taking the reins from Vinny’s father, Vincent Snr at Talbot Chimneys Ltd. Talbot Chimneys is one of Ireland’s leading and longest-established chimney repair specialists, performing chimney repair, relining and maintenance for local authorities, construction companies and house owners since 1978.
How does Vinny see the future? “We are steadily expanding, coming from the dark days when there seemed like there was no real end in sight. Back then all we could do was fight, fight, fight. Now, well there is light at the end of the tunnel, there is opportunity and there is work to do. We have a stronger foothold all the time. Working on bigger and more complicated jobs, which is great. Talbot is our family name, we put it on the business. We’re not going anywhere, we’ll be around for a long time, we’re in it for the long haul.”
Besides the two companies, Vinny and Kay have a busy home life with four children under the age of four – Kayla, Tom, Rosaleen and Charley – ensuring that when the work is done there is always lots to do.
And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Talbot Building & Civil Engineering Ltd.,
Alasty,
Kill,
Co Kildare
t. 045 842 922
m. 087 797 8969
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, July 2017, Vol 3 No 6
Talbot Building & Civil Engineering
