New Zealand’s leading infrastructure, commercial engineering and building contractor, Fletcher Construction is looking to the UK to recruit top-level talent to help deliver an extended pipeline of the largest infrastructure projects in the nation’s history.
Fletcher Construction is seeking a wide range of top British talent – engineers, project managers, surveyors, designers and builders – and is hosting an event in central London on 28 July to kick-start its recruitment drive.
Chief Executive Graham Darlow says global turmoil means Fletcher Construction will appeal to ex-pat and UK construction leaders as it is headquartered in New Zealand where a comfortable lifestyle is balanced by the challenges of world class construction projects. While the Christchurch post-earthquake rebuild is well underway, Auckland is making up for a massive infrastructure deficit and the firm has 30 years-worth of large-scale projects in the offing.
“I have never seen so much construction activity of such a scale right across New Zealand in my 40 years working in the industry,” he says.
“In Auckland right now, we’re working on several major highway projects, an international convention centre and several large five star hotels,” Darlow says.
Upcoming are a number of huge infrastructure projects, including Auckland’s city rail link, which combined with other large projects would constitute a 30-year pipeline of construction.
Recognising the international competition for skilled infrastructure project managers and engineers, Fletcher Construction has multiple initiatives underway at home and abroad to secure its long term talent pipeline, but is targeting the UK for senior construction leaders.
“We already employ many of New Zealand’s top construction talent but we need more,” says Darlow.
Darlow is realistic about what New Zealand offers: “We might not be able to beat the salaries on offer in Dubai and elsewhere. But where we can compete is the lifestyle and quality of life available here in New Zealand.
“This is the best place in the world to raise a family. The schools and universities are world class, you can walk to a beach from just about anywhere. If outdoor pursuits – from skiing to mountain climbing to tramping – are your thing, then New Zealand will be your paradise.”
Registration for the Fletcher Construction recruitment event can be found at http://www.projectyounz.com/
