Experience can only be built up over the course of time and the longer in business, the more experienced you become. Martin Reddin has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and thus when it comes to knowledge of the building sector, he has few peers.
That is not to say that Martin is still not learning, despite his many decades involved in the industry as 2020 in particular has been a learning experience for us all.
Completing projects across all sectors including commercial, Fit Out and industrial, Martin Reddin Ltd is one of the leading companies completing projects throughout the entire country.
Based in Portlaoise, the company’s portfolio has an impressive array of projects that they have been involved in over the years as their reputation for producing high quality work continues to grow.
For this month’s edition of Building Ireland, we profile the business and speak to Martin about his many years in the industry.
Martin established the business in 2012, but like we said earlier, his career in the building trade stretches back many decades.
“I would have worked in the U.K commencing in the late Eighties and then returned to Ireland in the early Nineties where I worked with Companies such as Roadstone, Bowens, M C O Sullivan Consulting engineers. I then worked for Robert Quinn & Son Ltd progressing to managing director of Quinn Reddin Ltd. I would have worked across all sectors and would have picked up a lot of experience of all aspects of the industry down through the years, which is essential when trying to run a business.”
In Martin Reddin Ltd, he has built up a diverse portfolio of projects for some of Ireland’s and the UK’s best known names. These include McDonald’s Restaurants UK & Ireland, AIB, Glanbia, Grafton Group, HSE, Hibernia REIT and many more with whom they carry out projects on a repeat basis. They also complete Design & build projects and have just completed the new Women’s Treatment centre in Athy for Cuan Mhuire on this model.
With 27 direct employees and a host of sub-contractors at their disposal, Martin Reddin Ltd is capable of taking on projects big or small.
“We would be a nationwide company, completing projects in different parts of Ireland. There is a strong pool of sub-contractors there that I would know well, and I know their capabilities, while they know the standard, we expect from them.
“There is a great team here. Together, we work well and ensure that every project is completed to not only the highest standard possible, but on time and within budget. You don’t get to do that if you have guys that are not pulling their weight, fortunately everyone plays their part in the success of the business. It is more like a family than just work.”
As stated, 2020 has been unprecedented and Martin revealed that they have been kept busy throughout with their involvement with the HSE completing essential projects keeping them during the first lockdown.
“We were doing a lot of emergency work for the HSE at the start of the lockdown, so we were never closed down. Then, when the entire industry was allowed back to back after the first lockdown, we had a number of projects ongoing and that is the way it has been since.
“Covid-19 regulations have all been implemented by us. It means that you have to manage the workload a bit better but we have learned to adapt to that. We also have a very proactive safety team and we were one of the first companies in the industry to ensure that everyone was wearing face masks at all times on site, and this was before the Government made it mandatory to do so.
Martin Reddin Ltd works across all sectors and currently and currently are on site on a number of Healthcare Projects with the HSE, a bank fit out for AIB in Dublin, EBS fit out in Tullamore, along with a Pharmacy Build and upgrade works to Portlaoise Rugby Football club.
“We are busy. The project in Portlaoise Hospital is a complex one given that we are working around a live Laboratory environment where there are people there all day every day. We would be happy enough with the workload that we have and these seem to be busy times in the industry.”
In parallel with live jobs on site we are also working on number of Design & Build projects which vary from a 110 bed Nursing Home to a High bay Warehouse Storage facility. These D+B projects are expected to be on site in early 2021 and will add substantially to our order book.
On staffing these projects martin noted, We have a good team here, but we are always looking to add more good people to the staff, but they are hard to find, especially in some of the trades where there is no young guys coming into the likes of ground-working which is in reality a trade in itself, even though it might not be recognised as such, but there is no one going into that line of work at all and it is an aging profession, there are other areas such as Block laying and plastering in a similar situation. To keep the dynamic of the company, we have registered to train apprentices, but the lack of skilled workers is certainly something that needs to be addressed.”
Given the experience they have, Martin Reddin Ltd have solved problems on-site that ensured projects stayed on track and on time. From working in city-centre locations to restricted access areas, you need an experienced team to make an informed decision and find a solution on-the-spot.
“Our portfolio illustrates solid experience in fit-outs, new build and renovations and other sectors. Internally, we set high standards and operate business management systems to the highest ISO levels right across Health & Safety, Quality and Environmental areas.”
On a final note, Martin stressed how vital it was to develop a relationship with the client to ensure that everyone was happy with the end product.
“We consistently build long term relationships with all clients and deliver projects safely on time, every time. This is all underpinned by our solid working relationships and our clients tell us that we often become a natural part of their supply chain over time.”
Contact Details:
Martin Reddin Ltd
8, 9 Kilminchy Cl,
Kilminchy,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois,
R32 WPT4
Tel: (057) 862 0444
E-mail: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, March, Vol 7 No 3
