ENCON is a one-off house builder and retro-fit contractor based in Co Waterford. Encon helps Irish people to achieve the highest standard of efficient living cost effectively. Building Ireland heard more from Managing Director Conor Walsh about the thriving business.
First founded in 2013, ENCON is a construction company which specialises in Retrofitting and Energy Efficient Construction.
The business was founded by Conor Walsh and Robert Keohan and employs 12 staff directly from its base in the Six Cross Roads Business Park, Co Waterford.
Encon achieve energy efficient homes at an affordable price in comparison to standard construction methods.
Conor Walsh was good enough to take time from a hectic schedule to tell Building Ireland all about the firm he and his business partner founded.
“Right now we’re covering the south east and the east coast of Ireland,” he explained.
“Encon provide one-off buildings and retro-fitting for clients and specialise in airtightness and facades – both domestic and commercial, from new to upgrading existing stock.”
He continued: “Both Robert and I qualified as carpenters in 2009, it was in a time when businesses were closing down left, right and centre and people may have thought that we were mad. But we went with it and 10 years later things are looking good.”
Conor and Bob entered the “Building Energy Conservation” sector in 2009 and, as Conor puts it, they “progressed from auditing buildings to becoming involved in retro fitting.”
Conor himself had gone back to college and trained as a Quantity Surveyor in the meantime and together both he and Robert grew the company to the point where it’s at today.
“Business is steadily increasing, it’s good,” he said. “Grants are available and multiple projects are coming in weekly and we’re happy with the way things have been progressing.
“We took a scheme of Wexford County Council Homes up from a D rating to an A rating and also completed a job successfully for Mythen Construction in WIT, Carriganore Campus recently.”
“There’s always a lot going on and we have been at the forefront of improving buildings for 10 years now. With new building projects both domestic and commercial opting for our service offering Encon is extremely well positioned for the increased and improved sector that is flourishing here currently.”
Another project which the company recently embarked on was the up scaling of their offices in the Six Cross Roads Business Park, Waterford.
ENCON also hopes to have its website (www.encon.ie) fully revamped and up and running soon, according to Conor.
So what has been the secret to success so far? How have Conor and Robert managed to build a company from the ground up since a time when the Irish construction industry in a dire state to the points where it’s at now – a thriving business, upgrading its new premises and getting local award nominations for its projects.
“Obviously, we tender for our projects here and it does come down to the most competitive tenders,” Conor outlined.
“Our forte though is that we very much know the product and we know where the problems for the client will arise.”
“We have had people coming up to us on occasions in the past saying that they’ve been very happy with what we have delivered and that’s what we aim for here.”
In January, Encon were shortlisted for the 2019 Business Awards in association with Waterford Chamber.
The ceremony saw 36 of county’s top businesses shortlisted for the fifth annual awards at the Tower Hotel in the Waterford City Centre on March 8th.
Encon was nominated for the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award and while the company didn’t take home the honours on the night, it was still a fantastic acknowledgement of the excellent work being done by the team.
“Waterford Chamber is one of the oldest Chambers in the country, so it was certainly a nice bit of recognition,” Conor said on the shortlisting for the award.
“The way we see it, to be shortlisted itself was an achievement and we plan to keep up those standards here.”
Conor has also been shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the year in Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur 2019 catergory “Established Business in the Waterford City.”
Where Encon is presently at has clearly been achieved through a commitment to innovation, quality and customer satisfaction.
The business venture has grown year on year to the point now here it can achieve energy efficient homes at an affordable price compared to standard construction methods.
They offer a build, test and certification service which will ensure the client that they obtain optimum heat efficiency at optimal cost.
ENCON’S team of builders are passionate about building both efficient and passive homes and can offer a variety of build options from block, to Insulated Concrete Form to timber frame.
They also provide retro-fit services for your existing home. Examples of this being External & Internal Wall Insulation, Cold & Warm Roof Insulation, Airtight Membranes and Deep Retro-fit Installations
So, from Airtightness to Facades – and everything in between, if you’re looking for the latest in Energy Efficient Building Technologies than look no further than ENCON.
ENCON
17B Six Cross Roads Business Park,
Co Waterford
Tel: 051 850 722
Mob: 085 101 1422
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, July, Vol 5 No 7
