Waikato Business News May/June 2018

HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMBRIDGE
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2018
33
Building firm gives back to community
Last Friday, Jono McCullough and his
team were standing on the banks of Lake
Karapiro supporting two of New Zealand’s
top rowers.
By RICHARD WALKER
“We looked like
road cones,”
Jono remarks, in
reference to the orange builders’
high-vis vests the team was kitted
out in.
They were backing eights
rowers Stephen Jones and Lucy
Spoors, who are brand ambassadors
for Jono and wife Paula’s
Cambridge company, Rob May
Builders.
Cambridge has a buzz
about it. We’ve got
so much here - Lake
Karapiro is such a
massive thing for us.
The New Zealand rowers
were completing final preparations
before heading to Europe
for two World Rowing Cup
events in June and July.
On Friday, Lucy and Stephen
had enthusiastic support from a
full complement of 18. Not only
that, but the firm built Stephen
his house, and since then he has
been with them as brand ambassador
for about three or four
years.
There’s a sporting theme
running right through the building
company’s extensive support
for its community.
It’s been a while since Jono
took to the cricket field, but
they sponsor all the club cricket
in Cambridge, with juniors
through to seniors pulling on
Rob May branded shirts when
they take the field. “It’s great to
see the club is thriving and kids
getting out and enjoying their
sport.”
Rounding out the picture,
they sponsor a netball team from
Cambridge East Primary and
also one of the town’s netball
courts - court six is Rob May
Builders Court.
“It’s great seeing girls and
boys learning the discipline of
team sport.”
Paula is Cambridge born
and bred, while Jono hails from
Katikati, and they’ve been running
their Cambridge business
since 2005 so they have a strong
base for their community support.
A builder for 32 years, Jono
is also keen to play his part in
training the next generation and
they have eight apprentices, and
take on a new one most years.
“I think we’ve had about 14
apprentices past and present.
And we’re big on it because the
industry needs to bring young
guys through. I got trained, I got
put through my time, so I need
to give back.
“So that’s part of our community.
We like to, as much as
possible, give young guys in the
community the opportunity.”
Some stay on, including the
firm’s foreman, Cameron van
den Broek, who got his start as
their first apprentice, and first
employee.
The apprentices learn their
trade working on restorations as
well as new builds.
“Top end architectural homes
are what we do,” Jono says.
The firm has two new houses
in the St Kilda subdivision with
two more at Norfolk Downs,
and a couple of big house builds
at Karapiro. The focus is residential,
though it also works on
retirement complexes.
They could hardly be based
in a better place, as Cambridge
booms.
“It’s got great atmosphere,
great location, and it’s a vibrant
town,” Jono says.
“Cambridge has a buzz
about it. We’ve got so much
here - Lake Karapiro is such a
massive thing for us.
“And you’ve got the athletes.
So you’re in a town that’s got
top class athletes and you walk
down the street and you see
them and say gidday to them.
For kids, that’s pretty special.
And I think that all adds to the
vibe of the place. It’s great for
us, great for business and great
to be a part of.
“I love Cambridge, eh?”
Paula and Jono McCulloch
of Rob May Builders.
Building what you want,
how you want it!
• Residential - design and build
• Top end architectural homes
• Alterations and renovations
• Light commercial • Retirement sector
Rob May Builders
Building, measured and nailed.
Jono 027 458 9856
www.robmay.builders | sales@robmay.builders
A6055T