Based in Newcastle, Co Down, Rodgers Construction Ltd has more than 25 years’ experience in the design and construction of residential developments and one-off bespoke properties. Building Ireland touched base with the Managing Director Adrian Rodgers to learn all about the ins and out of the business, it’s current projects and nomination at the upcoming CEF Excellence Awards.
Next year will see Rodgers Construction Ltd marking an even two decades in business and, right now, the outlook is very positive for the Co Down firm.
Business is good and this October will see the company represented at the 2023 CEF Excellence Awards thanks to its first-rate work at The Dunes Apartments project in Newcastle, Co Down.
Rodgers Construction Ltd is a company headed up by its Managing Directors Adrian Rodgers his wife Donna (also Office Manager) and team of loyal staff which are second to none in their respective fields.
Building Ireland caught up with Adrian Rodgers recently to discuss the award nomination, current on-going projects and what his company provides clients better than other competitors out there.
“We do a small amount of commercial work and a small amount of renovation work, but our main line of contracts would be new build houses and we do everything from one-off houses to developments and apartments,” he outlined.
Adrian’s own background had obviously seen him immersed in construction before he took the bold decision to go out on his own in ’04.
Back then, he was starting off small, with ambition of building something big but, above all else, quality workmanship was what mattered most to him.
Rodgers Construction’s first project some 19 years ago now was a site of 14 houses in Banbridge and they thoroughly delivered it much to the client’s satisfaction.
Since that time, Adrian is glad to report that the company hasn’t looked back as it has remained busy with projects ever since.
“It wasn’t too bad getting off the ground, to be honest. We were starting from a good base having worked for my father’s building company and learning the trade inside and out from the age of 16 and with his help we were in a good position to start tendering for our own work.
“Working for my father had given me great experience and before starting out on my own, I had just managed and completed a site of 14 townhouses which won the CEF Excellence awards in 2004” he said.
“We were lucky enough that work was plentiful back then and it was a good time to start, so we just kept the head down and got stuck in, I suppose.”
Fast-forward the best part of two decades later and they remain busy at Rodgers Construction, with a handful of projects on-going at the present time.
The main challenge right now, of course, for businesses like Adrian’s is the rising cost of materials for the construction industry, and it’s one he has been attempting to meet head on since the unprecedented days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“With inflation this last couple of years, it has been a big thorn in the side for contractors and managing costs is very important at the minute, that’s a thing we have to be careful with but, overall, business is good and hopefully it stays that way,” he explained.
Earlier this year, the company’s excellent work was recognised on a national scale when it was shortlisted as a finalist at the 2023 Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Excellence Awards.
The recently completed The Dunes Apartments project in Newcastle earned its way into the ‘Multiple Occupancy Project of the Year’ category, with the winners set to be announced at highly anticipated in-person gala evening on Thursday, October 5th, hosted by Channel 4 TV Architect George Clarke.
“We just finished The Dunes Apartments which were nominated at the CEF Excellence awards and we’re very proud of the project – that was six luxury apartments that we built and handed over,” outlined Adrian.
“We were about a year-and-a-half in total on the project, so we broke ground on it in September 2021.
“We have a couple of one-off houses that we are doing for clients now and a few new projects in the pipeline.
Down through the years, Rodgers Construction Ltd has earned itself an excellent reputation within the construction industry through its ability to complete major housing projects on time, within budget and to the client’s satisfaction.
So, the burning question is what has been the secret behind the success of the company to date?
How has a small start-up grown into what is now a thriving construction business which holds an excellent reputation among its clients?
For Adrian, he has always been of the belief that constant quality work and client service stands by his construction company.
“We pride ourselves in the standard of our workmanship and the quality of my workers. I have a great bunch of workers who are with me all the time and together we make a great team,” he said.
“We also pride ourselves in what we do, having worked for some of the top architects here in the north.”
Adrian Rodgers undertakes the building of every residential property as if it was his own and, to this end, all clients can expect the highest standards of service and quality workmanship to ensure that the home of their dreams becomes a reality.
Looking at the months ahead for the business, the man himself is eager for the rate of work to remain on its current course and perhaps grown things a little along the way.
“Hopefully, there continues to be a steady stream of work and we’re able to grow our company in the future. That’s the plan anyway,” the Managing Director concluded.
Rodgers Construction Ltd
24 Bryansford Avenue,
Newcastle,
Co Down.
BT33 0LG
Mobile: +44 7884 362 800
Fax: +44 28 4372 4512
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, November 2023, Vol 9 No 11
