Established since 2017, Novo Contractors Ltd provides demolition, restoration, new build, maintenance, and full turnkey fit-out projects for its clients. Building Ireland touched base with company founder Kevin Doherty to hear all about the projects its currently immersed in, along with its overall hopes going forward.
Business is good these days at Novo Contractors Ltd and the plan for Kevin Doherty and the rest of the team in Newbridge, Co Kildare is to try and keep things that way for the foreseeable future.
Operating with eight direct staff on its books, the company has been up and running for many years now and is renowned for producing quality work on time and within budget, while working closely with its clients and design partners.
Kevin Doherty heads up Novo Contractors Ltd as its Managing Director and is joined in the business by his wife Brónagh, with their kids Callum, Cillian and Saoirse also lending a helping hand over holiday periods.
On site Noel ‘OCD’ Buckley would manage projects along with Kevin. Kevin and Noel work very well to give clients honest hard work and value for money on each project.
Building Ireland caught up with the Glasgow native to learn all about the ins and outs of this family venture – from its origins to what he feels separates it from the competition out there.
“We’re based in Newbridge, Co Kildare and most of our work is done around Kildare, Wicklow and Dublin,” Kevin outlined.
“With regards to staff, we have eight direct and we subcontract everyone else in but this is a truly tried and tested supply chain that moves from project to project with us.
“I am Managing Director and my wife Brónagh organises the accounts with our kids Callum, Cillian and Saoirse helping out when they can during the holiday periods, so it’s a family business built from the ground up.”
“The team at Novo Contractors has varied backgrounds which range from demolition, commercial, residential and restoration projects and as some clients refer to us, we are a ‘mini’ main contractor with that special client focus.”
The company works on projects which range anywhere between €10,000 to €1.5m in value and it has pushed it on now in 2025 where it’s doing more and more fit-out work.
“As I say, we go from groundwork and demolition right through to handing the keys over. It’s a full turnkey package,” the company’s founder surmised.
As for his own background, Kevin’s departure from his home town of Glasgow saw him first spending some time in Australia and New Zealand before travelling USA, Canada and Europe before landing back in Glasgow with his future wife for a few years.
Later, he and Brónagh would make the move to Ireland where they eventually set-up a construction venture.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“I’m here 18 years now this year. It does not seem that long, so I suppose time flies when you are having fun.
“I am a Quantity Surveyor by trade and went through commercial and project management for several companies in varying disciplines so I know the construction industry very well.
“I was with all those companies for a long time and just decided to start a business myself and, thankfully, we are still going strong today.”
Currently Novo Contractors Ltd are in a very promising position business-wise.
Since the start of this year in particular, the projects have been coming thick and fast and it is set to see Kevin and his team busy for the months ahead and even towards the company’s ninth year.
“Last year was good and this year is looking very promising so far,” the Managing Director was happy to report.
“I mean, last year saw the tail end of the year very busy and now this year it has gone from strength to strength. We just finished the Office Shoes store in Dundrum and we are also doing an office fit-out and toilet refurbs in Suffolk St, and we also do several contracts at the Curragh Camp for the Defence Forces.
“We are looking at another Photo Studio fit-out up in Dublin North and last year we finished the other Office Shoes store in Henry St, too. We also do a huge amount of work with Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin 2 as well.”
So, all of that considered, the burning question is what has been the secret behind the success of Novo Contractors Ltd to date?
How has a small start-up grown into what is now very much a thriving contracting firm which holds an excellent reputation amongst its clients?
For Kevin, building trust with them over the years has been essential to his own company’s continued growth and overall success.
“I think we get the repeat business because we never let them down,” he stated plainly.
“As I say, we have worked with Clarendon Properties since we started, so since 2017, and they now have projects in Cork that they want us to look at as well.
“So, it just shows you that we’re well regarded with them.”
Today, Novo Contractors provides its clients with demolition, restoration, new build, maintenance, and full turnkey service for its fit-out projects, as well as civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, and electrical works which are carried out on time and within budget.
As well as that, all the company’s projects are completed to the highest quality under stringent health and safety protocols.
Looking towards the months ahead, Kevin says that he is eager for more of the same business-wise, which means delivering more and more quality when it comes to projects for the company’s clientele.
“We just want to keep clients happy and keep the work coming in. We like to leave a mark with people and let them see quality,” he said.
“It is quality over quantity. We do not take on hundreds of projects like other companies as we give the client our full focus and dedication.
“We’re several years in business now and we’ve done very well throughout it and, hopefully, that lasts for the foreseeable future.”
Novo Contractors Ltd
Co Kildare
Mobile: 087 662 7729
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, Summer 2025, Vol 11 No 7
