Premier Paving managing director Ger Woodlock has seen many changes to the construction industry, but like everyone else 2020 has certainly been different.
The Covid-19 Pandemic practically brought the country to its knees in mid-March as Ireland’s economy ground to a halt. It has been strange times to say the least and Ger admitted that it was an uncertain time for everyone.
“It has been strange to say the least. I never thought in all my years working when I would see the whole country in lockdown,” said Ger. “Hopefully, we won’t see a repeat of the lockdown again and things can start getting back to normal or as normal as can be.”
Since their return to work following the lockdown, Premier Paving have been kept busy with a number of projects ongoing both in Ireland, Northern Ireland and England where they have an office established for the past four years.
“We are very busy at the moment. We would carry out work for all the leading building contractors in the country including SISK, John Paul, Rhatigans and Bennetts to name just a few.
“We were asked to do a job for John Paul in the U.K a few years ago and we have had work over there ever since. We set up an office there and it has been going well.
“Northern Ireland would also be a source of a lot of our work. We would do a lot for FP McCann’s, Gilbert Ash, Fox Contractors and McAleer & Rushe. We actually carried out our first job in Europe this year with a project in Holland, so we are expanding all the time,” stated Ger.
Premier Paving employ 70 between direct and sub-contractors, many of who have been with the company for years as Ger stressed that it was important to keep the staff happy.
“A lot of the people here would be with us for years and we are fortunate with the staff we have, but there is a void there where there is a shortage of skilled workers. The majority of Eastern European workers who we had were excellent workers, but they all returned home when the lockdown came in and they have not returned, so this year, it has been very difficult to get labour.
“That doesn’t help when you have an order book that is full until early next year, but there is not a lot we can do about it at the moment.”
Premier Paving has grown its portfolio so impressively that it now includes Resin Bound Surfaces, porcelain flags, bespoke paving, prophy setts, from multiple suppliers like Stonepave, Kilsaran Home, Acheson and Glover, Barleystone, Kilkenny Limestone, Ronadeck, SIG, Keltec and many, many more.
Premier Paving also has an office in Dublin to accompany its headquarters in Thurles to better serve its national client base. And this office is run efficiently by Tudor who brings a wealth of experience to the position. Tudor has been a big part of Premier Paving since he came on board and now, he looks after a lot of our bigger clients both in Ireland and the UK. His commitment to Premier Paving is second to none and he is now a director of the company along with Ger.
“We specialise in installation in all types of natural stone, which is a big part of our business as we do a lot of Public Realm Projects both in Ireland and UK.
“We cover nationwide, specialising in commercial paving and we also supply and install concrete brick, clay brick and precast hard landscaping materials. We mainly do the labour, but we supply and fit also on request.
In more recent years, Premier Paving has evolved into the world of Cladding and Resin Bound Surfaces which led to the company developing its very own Cladding and Resin division. Numerous cladding and resin packages, which range from bespoke to landscape feature walls to housing facades or driveways have been completed by the business.
Premier Paving also design, supply and fit Gabion walls and offering such a wide range of services is part of the reason why so many different clients tend to choose them first.
The family run business which includes Ger’s two sister in laws Maria Woodlock (accounts) and Elsie Rafter (accountant) has been going from strength to strength with new products being brought to the market on a regular basis.
In Blackcastle, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co Tipperary E41 PY60, they have a full product portfolio at their display centre, which is located a short distance from Thurles town and just approximately one minute from exit 5 of the M8 motorway.
The centre offers a complete range of paving solutions that is designed to help the requirements of both domestic and commercial clients.
Ger is happy with the workload and he stressed that as long as his customers continue to grow, they will grow alongside them.
“Like I said, we are very busy for the rest of the year and into next year. So, we can’t complain, especially after the year it’s been. I do have concerns over Brexit as we are dealing with the U.K market all the time, but we just have to wait and see how that turns out. Our main focus is to continue to provide a quality service to all our customers.”
Contact Details:
Premier Paving
Blackcastle,
Two-Mile-Borris,
Thurles,
Co Tipperary
Phone: (0504) 44208
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.premierpaving.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, February, Vol 7 No 2
