Started from humble beginnings in 2000, Harrison Contracts Ltd has evolved into a leading light in the delivery of Civil Engineering and Utilities projects across the island of Ireland and beyond. Director Mark Harrison detailed the key attributes that the ever burgeoning Newry, Co Down based company prides itself on.
A family run business with a reputation for establishing a good working relationship with all their clients, they always act in ways that will enhance their reputation and contribute to the future success of Harrison Contracts Ltd, their clients and their partners.
“Integrity,” was the one word that Mark Harrison used to describe the solid foundations that Harrison Contracts Ltd has been built on in an interview with Building Ireland magazine. “As a family-run company, we always strive to do the best job we possibly can and keep our customers’ happy at all times. If we can do that, then life tends to be that little bit easier in this industry.”
The wide and varied range of services that Harrison Contracts Ltd provide includes: Civil Engineering & Plant Hire, Water main, new and rehabilitation; Sewers; Road works; Tarmac and asphalt, Utilities and General and specialized ground works.
Mark and the Harrison Contracts team understands that a company lives or dies by its reputation. They value theirs and have built up an enviable one within the industry as a result of their dedication and hard work.
Farrans Construction, for example, is a longstanding valued customer that appreciates their attention to detail and reliability. As a consequence, they regularly avail of their services.
“We’ve been carrying out work on behalf of Farrans for the last 17 years and it has proven to be a mutually beneficial arrangement,” Mark revealed. “They have been very good to us and it’s a two-sided coin.”
The company has come a long way since Mark and his father Daniel took the brave decision to go out on their own with just one lorry and a digger 19 years ago.
“A water rehabilitation contract with Farrans, on behind of Northern Irish Water, was our first job and we progressed from there. We concentrated mainly on the water end of things in the early days and the first Civil Engineering job we undertook was a public realm facelift scheme, the Streets Ahead Scheme, in Belfast.
“We worked across the UK on behalf of Farrans on major engineering contracts involving the likes of deep drainage, big pipeline, water treatments works and reservoirs.”
Mark added: “At present we have an extensive workforce of skilled employees and subcontractors, 26 diggers and 100 pieces of plant out and about on jobs in six counties in the Republic of Ireland , two counties in Northern Ireland and across in London, Cumbria and Wrexham. Geographically, our work is well spread out! Business is really good at the moment and the UK market is particularly busy.”
The County Down based company are currently hard at work on Irish Water’s Leakage Reduction Programme in the Republic of Ireland. The Programme involves reducing leaks across Ireland by fixing or replacing old, damaged pipes and removing lead pipes on the network. Irish Water’s target is to save approximately 166 million litres of water per day.
“We’ve been working on that project since October,” explained Mark, “from Galway up through the midlands, through Carrick-on-Shannon, Donegal and Monaghan. Where possible we always try to employ local workers on jobs like that. In our experience, local knowledge is key and that outweighs anything else.”
The Northern Ireland Water Watermains Rehabilitation Framework is also keeping the Harrison Contracts team busy.
A province-wide programme to improve the water main infrastructure, the framework includes management, design and construction of new water mains or the replacement or renovation of existing water mains up to 600mm diameter.
It also includes ancillary works such as service reservoirs and pumping stations. Works are required to be carried out in diverse environments such as rural roads, urban housing estates and city centres.
Turning his attention to the future, Mark expects the company to continue on its upward trajectory. “At the moment our order book is filled out and we have plenty of work to take us through 2019. I’d be fairly positive about what the future holds in store,” he concluded.
Feel free to contact Mark at the numbers below if you would like to discuss any requirements you may have in their chosen area of specialty. Harrison Contracts boast a proven track record that clearly demonstrates exceptional performance throughout their company.
Harrison Contracts Ltd
224 Head Road
Annalong
Newry
Co Down
BT34 4RJ
Office: 02843767144
Mob: 07809658389/07894825192
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, May, Vol 5 No 4
