A building firm that has provided hundreds of people in north west Wales with homes and jobs since starting up in 1996 is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
DU Construction Ltd in Holyhead has seen ups and downs over 25 years, surviving the property market crash and challenges of Covid, but has continued to grow.
It now employs up to 60 workers with other sub-contractors also working alongside them and is helping build homes for local people, often working with housing associations.
The firm was founded by Mark Blackwell, who had been working at RAF Valley as a site manager for a construction firm, travelling up from Flintshire.
He was approached to start his own business and he moved to the island 27 years ago, working as a sole trader before starting DU Construction Ltd
Mark, who was 28 when he started the business, said: “We developed gradually to working on larger planned maintenance schemes across the island for Anglesey council with schemes from eight up to 15 houses during the first three to five years, gradually employing more trades and using local sub contractors. “
By 2005 DU employed around 25 full-time staff and was able to carry out more significant schemes across the island and beyond to Gwynedd.
Like the entire sector, it was impacted by the credit crunch and property crash of 2007/08 – a crisis that saw many in the sector driven out of business.
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Mark said: “That downturn was a really tough period and – with the cooperation of my staff –we were lucky that to get through that.”
Supported by his loyal team they guided their way through the crisis and in 2010 the company relocated from Holyhead to Gaerwen – with quantity surveyor Paul Owen and office manager Ann Warren helping the company expand.
“We were able to train up site mangers and take on more complex, bigger value schemes and expand our workforce to the level where we are today employing at times anywhere between 50 and 60 full-time trades and general staff,” said Mark.
“More recently we have been able to appoint a full-time buyer with Paul Hughes joining the company, which has been a huge help and moved the company on.”
DU won various contracts with Horizon Nuclear Power at Wylfa and remains on site, though is obviously disappointed the multi-billion pound development is currently not going ahead.
Mark said: “I hope this changes in the future. It would good for us but also for the island, bringing good long-term jobs here.”
Work carried out so far has seen them step up another level in terms of obtaining accreditations to enhance the training and skill set of staff. Mark added: “We are passionate about employing, training up and giving youngsters the chance to work in the building industry and is something we base our work ethos on. Nearly all our staff are from the local area.
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“We have over the past 25 years taken on dozens of young school leavers as apprentices, many of whom are still with me, or have moved on to start their own businesses as self employed tradesmen which fills me with a great deal of pride.
“Many of these return to work for the company on a self-employed basis. I personally have lived on the island for 27 years and the wealth of skilled tradesmen on the island is something as an island we should be proud of, the level of expertise they have and that we use on a regular basis.”
The other matter of pride to Mark is providing local homes for people, particularly at a time of concerns about first-time buyers being priced out of the market on Anglesey and in Gwynedd.
They are working with Ynys Mon council and Adra and Clwyd Alyn housing associations in delivering 52 modern, high-efficiency, low-carbon houses – and recently completed 72 newly built houses across six villages – all of which are occupied by local people.
During its 25 years, DU has completed the external and landscaping works on nearly 700 homes in Ynys Mon and Gwynedd council’s social housing stock.
“We are currently working on a further 70 in Llangoed and Llanddona on Anglesey,” Mark said.
“The Holyhead site will have 26 passive standard homes delivered within 12 months of starting. This will be the largest example of this modern method of construction the island has been delivered.
“When local firms are on these schemes, there is the double benefit of building people homes while also giving local people work. This also feeds through the whole economy too, like the supply chain.”
Other notable schemes include an overhaul of Bangor swimming baths and the Empire cinema in Holyhead, and the Holyhead Town Hall refit.
The company has of course been affected by the pandemic, closing operations at first before a gradual reopening in line with guidelines.
Mark said: “It has thrown up issues and challenges, but the team here have been brilliant – really embraced the new safety culture and different way of working.
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“It has changed the way we have worked and we have adapted.
“Again it is down to our loyal staff, the firm would be nowhere without those loyal workers and my thanks goes out to all of them for many years of loyal service.”
And the future?
Mark said: “We want to expand our apprenticeship scheme, with the work at present we have been able to take on two new joinery apprentices , we also we have a number of sites in planning and new build social housing remains a priority along with the local authority refurbishment programme.”
He added: “We are over the years proud of our association with many local charities and good causes including various donations to local food banks and charities and we are looking at working with more this year.”
This week he went to Ysbyty Enfys in Bangor with 100 Easter eggs and drinks as a donation and a thank you for the nurses who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic.