2018 saw BM Construction Sligo Ltd mark 30 years in business, so Building Ireland felt it was time to learn all about this thriving company out west from its Managing Director Fergal Mitchell.
Established by Brendan Mitchell in 1988, BM Construction Sligo Ltd is a building contractor firm which has extensive experience in the construction of new builds, extensions and renovations of residential and commercial projects.
The company has earned itself a reputation for undertaking top quality work at a competitive price over the last three decades, maintaining its aim, to meet and exceed clients’ expectations on all projects.
Known locally as ‘BM Construction’, the company is based in Knocknahur South, Co Sligo and carries out many of its projects within a 30km radius of Sligo Town.
Fergal Mitchell is Brendan’s son, and the current Managing Director of the business, having originally joined in 2007 as a Quantity Surveyorfollowing 10 years’ experience working for two PQS firms in the Sligo area.
He was good enough to take the time from a hectic schedule to fill Building Ireland in on the details of BM Construction.
“Our main work would be residential new builds houses, extensions and renovations and In recent years we have completed renovations to a number of local church buildings,” Fergal outlined.
That’s a far cry from where BM Construction first started out.
Having developed a background in carpentry, Brendan Mitchell established the business as a sole trader back in 1980.
He started out on his own and, as the years rolled by, he built up a reputation as a hardworking and honest builder, undertaking various types of building projects in the Sligo area.
He’d eventually established BM Construction Sligo Ltd as a limited company and the rest, as they say, is history.
“My father started out as a small builder, he began by constructing new houses for Sligo County Council in the 1980s and just grew it from there,” said Fergal.
“I would’ve been involved in the business from a young age working during any spare time including school holidays and weekends. I went full-time with BM Construction in 2007 when my father mentioned he would like to ‘take it a bit easier!’ I’ve always had a keen interest in construction and I suppose from a young age I knew I would end up involved in the family business,” Fergal says.
Fergal would eventually take up the Managing Director role, with his father still remaining involved in the business to this day.
The changing of the guard came at a difficult time, with the construction industry reeling as a result of the economic recession.
“It was a dramatic change and at that time it had become more difficult to pick up new work,” Fergal explained.
“We got through it though thanks to a lot of smaller projects and, gradually, we got back to the point where we were busy again.”
The company prides itself on the quality of its work and has built up a team of highly skilled and motivated staff and sub-contractors over the years, so that all projects run smoothly and are finished to the highest standards.
At BM Construction, they believe in working honestly and fairly and at all times maintaining integrity.
These have been the ethos of the business from the days of its origins. Fast-forward some 32 years later and business is very much booming for the Yeats County company.
“2020 was like a continuation of last year in that we had a large amount of enquiries for new work,” said the Managing Director.
“During the weeks of lockdown, we tendered for a lot of projects with the free time that we had and now our books are full again.”
He added: “We currently have three projects on site, a large a renovation and extension of a 1990s built house in Rosses Point and we have two other similar projects in the Strandhill area.”
So what has been the secret to success for BM Construction over these past 30-odd years?
For Fergal, maintaining a good reputation for its work has been critical for the company down through the years.
“Most of the enquiries that we get here would be through word of mouth, which I still believe is the best way to obtain new work,” he pointed out.
“The fact that we’re around a long time gives clients that sense of security and also that we bring a high level of experience to any project we undertake.
“We use good materials and good sub-contractors. I think our loyalty to sub-contractors and our suppliers shows in the completed work.”
He continued: “On each project I am the clients’ point of contact. I act as the project Foreman and Contracts Manager on all projects and I’ve always felt it’s important to listen to the client. Clear and effective communication is key, and this tends to the main reason for projects being a success,” Fergal stated.
Looking towards the months ahead, Fergal is hoping for more of the same for BM Construction.
The company currently employs four full-time staff and that’s something that the MD is looking to build on as well going forward.
“Since we’ve come back to work in May, we’ve been fully booked up for 2020. Hopefully that will continue next year as well,” he said.
“Believe it or not though, we’re actually turning down work at the moment and our biggest issue that we have here is trying to source people.
“Getting experienced staff can be difficult in this line of work but we’ll keep our ear to the ground and try and continue to grow here.”
BM Construction is a member of HomeBond, the Construction Industry Federation, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
For all of your new build, renovation and extension needs, look no further than the experienced team at BM Construction Sligo Ltd Knocknahur South, Co. Sligo.
BM Construction Sligo Ltd
Knocknahur South
Co. Sligo
www.bmconstructionsligo.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, July/August 2020, Vol 6 No 4
