New Century Engineering Ltd (NCE) provides utilities and civil engineering solutions to its public and private clients throughout both Ireland and the UK. Building Ireland touched base with Directors, Paul Montgomery and Alan Mangan, to find out more about the company.
Established in 1999, the company is now recognised as Ireland’s leading utilities specialists, providing its clientele with all aspects of civil engineering, primarily in relation to Electricity, Gas, Water, Telecoms, Drainage and District Heating Infrastructure Projects. Throughout this time, NCE have successfully delivered many minor and major Utilities Projects, both directly and indirectly, for a wide range of clients, e.g. various Local Authorities, ESB, Ervia (GNI & IW), UCD along with many Irish Blue Chip Companies and American Global Tech Corporations.
Building on their past success, NCE Ltd continues to develop their full range of services. Along with the recent expansion of their Gas & Drainage divisions, NCE have now developed a bespoke service offering which provides Developers & Main Contractors with a “one stop shop” for site services. Hence, in addition to NCE’s long established utilities expertise, the Company now also provides an all-encompassing multi-utility service which incorporates all aspects of site services and groundworks, from early client support planning up to and including specialist granite paving and soft landscapes surface finishes, for new high-end developments.
Building Ireland was particularly interested to learn more about the progressive approach to meeting the needs of Developers and Main Contractors via NCE’s fully integrated service. Alan Mangan explains, “Our new turnkey service provides a welcome solution to the otherwise fragmented nature of groundworks incorporating site service. Clients have much to gain by having a single point of contact for the seamless delivery of all site services works packages, i.e. works comprising the installation of multi-utilities from within site boundaries out into the public realm, up to and including final connections to the main underground infrastructures. NCE’s service has the additional benefit of incorporating all hard and soft final surface finishes, something which is now proving increasingly popular with our clients.”
Alan adds: “The pandemic was the time to listen carefully to our clients. As such, it became increasingly apparent that they wanted a more effective and efficient solution to the management and delivery of site services, groundworks and surface finishes. Clients wanted an alternative approach to the custom and practice of appointing and managing multiple disparate sub-contractors for each separate element of the works, both inside and outside the hoardings. Additionally, they sought expert support and guidance in managing the myriad of complexities which can arise from working in the public domain, not least the need to satisfy the many and varied requirements of local authorities.”
Paul says: “In the past the initial enquiry from clients generally entailed a specific work scope, i.e. primarily utilities connections from the site boundary to the pre-existing infrastructure within the public realm. However, once the client has witnessed NCE’s quality and efficiency, along with full extent of additional services and support that we offer, they then seek to expand the scope and remit of the initial works.
In short, clients recognise that engaging NCE’s fully integrated serviceadds value by mitigating many of the unforeseen difficulties. This, in turn, improves productivity, and allows much more efficient use of the clients’ own management resources, ultimately resulting in significant cost savings.”
This is a unique offering which truly differentiates NCE from their competitors
A turnkey service had been under consideration for some time. The shutdown afforded NCE the time and opportunity to fully develop their new service offering. Paul tells us: “The end-to-end service that we now provide feels like a natural progression. The commitment and ethos of the Company has always been to provide both public and private clients with utility and civil engineering solutions, our expertise, a top class service and value for money. Now that we provide a fully integrated service, it allows us to add even more value for our clients.”
With regard to the specific sections of works within the public domain, experience is vital. This is particularly so when it comes to dealing with the different government bodies and councils. Ensuring that the necessary Road Opening License Applications are correctly completed and submitted within the required timescale is essential to the relevant licenses being granted in time to meet project deadlines. “It’s critical to get this process absolutely right as early as possible,” Paul comments. “This is a particular area in which NCE’s experience, reputation and contacts often prove crucial in progressing works on behalf of our clients.”
NCE are fully familiar with the myriad of inter-departmental complexities when dealing with local authorities, and the resulting delays and costs which can easily be incurred through a simple misunderstanding. This is an aspect of project-delivery which can be invisible to the untrained eye, hence Developers and Main Contractors often underestimate the full extent of the complexities involved. This lack of understanding frequently manifests itself in ‘unforeseen’ obstacles[ which invariably results in unnecessary frustration, delays and cost over-runs.
Paul tells us: “NCE have been dealing directly with such matters, on a daily basis, for over 20 years. As such, we have a detailed understanding of the correct processes and procedures which need to be followed in order for various license applications to be successfully processed within the allotted timescales. As such, there can be much to be gained for Developers and Main Contractors by involving NCE in the process as early as possible, and ideally at the planning stage of a project.”
He adds: “Over the last 20 years of proven reliability, NCE has earned the trust of Local Authorities. This trust helps facilitate a smooth and beneficial process for all stakeholders, something that our long term clients recognise and rely on us to manage on their behalf.”
Alan, who joined the Company two years ago, says: “NCE has earned its reputation on merit and it’s that reputation which attracted me to the company in the first place. Having now witnessed at first hand the genuine desire to helpclients mitigate costs, I’m convinced that NCE’s turnkey service will bring even further cost benefits to Developers and Main Contractors. We’re increasingly seeing a demand for our services, particularly with the full package now on offer.”
So, what has been the secret to success for this thriving business?
Paul comments: “As with any Company that’s been trading for over 20 years, NCE has faced its fair share of challenges. Nevertheless, irrespective of the magnitude or nature of those challenges, our hard work, perseverance and determination to deliver on our commitments has meant that we’ve always managed to successfully overcome each and every challenge.”
Given the most recent challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, NCE has used their past experience to navigate these and to re-shape the business to meet the future demands of their clients.
Paul comments: “We recognised that the time was right to diversify and broaden our services, hence we’ve not only weathered the storm, but have in fact made considerable improvements to the business across all areas. Even prior to the onset of Covid, we had become increasingly focussed on working ever more closely with a number of key clients to deliver excellence and to add value.
Key to adding extra value was a review of our management structure, and the addition of several several high calibre personnel with the requisite array of qualifications, skills and experience, and, who also genuinely subscribed to NCE’s values.”
Alan says: “Our staff have proven to be a tremendous asset to the Company, evidenced by their capabilities, teamwork, diligence and commitment. The Directors have a real pride in our team, and have confidence that they all represent NCE with professionalism and integrity.
Paul adds: “Our staff are the future of NCE and it’s extremely important to us that they can grow and prosper with us and be part of the long term success of the Company.
Further, as part ofour strategy, we’ve rationalized our supply chain in order to work with selected key partners, sub-contractors and suppliers who also share NCE’s ethos, and who are equally committed to delivering excellence.”
NCE is rightly proud of its enviable reputation and ongoing success. That said, the Directors are keen to stress “there’s no room for complacency, so we’re solely focused on the future, and as such, promise that there is much more to come.”
In unison, Paul and Alan say: “The whole team at NCE are looking forward to the future with a real sense of optimism, as we build further success by continuing to add value for our clients.”
In these unprecedented times, the future remains bright for NCE.
New Century Engineering Ltd (NCE)
Unit B8,
Swords Enterprise Park,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Telephone: 01 840 8804
Email: [email protected]
Web: newcentury.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August, Vol 7 No 8
