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Irish Post
Building Britain 2019
THE
Galldris - Building on 21 Years of Construction Success JACK BERESFORD Galldris have been in the construction business for 21 years, working as main contractors and sub-contractors on a variety of projects and providing services covering everything from tunnelling to civil engineering. Combining years of experience with a modern approach to the challenges of the construction industry, Galldris was founded by Irishmen Sean O’Driscoll and Donal Gallagher, who continue to run the company on a daily basis, working closely with their teams and staff to ensure projects are delivered on time and safely. A company that fosters a close-knit working community built on common values, Galldris’ ethos is reflected in its sponsorship of the London Irish Vintage Charity Club, an initiative bringing the Irish community together to raise money for worthwhile causes. We spoke to co-founder, Sean O’Driscoll about the challenges facing Galldris.
another large infrastructure project. We are also working on the redevelopment of Kings Cross for Argent and we’re up to about £45 million on that one. What would you say are the core values of your company? That the company is seen as reliable and trustworthy. We have a very strong safety culture. It’s our number one priority on any project. The big thing for us is relationships. Repeat business. If we don’t secure another contract from a client, we see it as a failure. We want clients to use us again.
How do you see your role in the company? Problem solving and business development. Trying to secure new contracts and liaising with existing and new clients to make sure they are happy with everything we are doing for them.
What would you see as the key to the Galldris success? You have got to be dedicated, hungry and passionate. You have got to put in the hard work and take risks. If you don’t take risks you won’t get the reward but at the same time, you have got to be calculated. Weigh up the pros and cons. In this current climate you’ve also got to do your due diligence. We’ve already seen the demise of Carillion and there are some large contractors out there that are shaky right now. They might be turning over billions, but their net worth is very little. They’re large entities trading on the cash flow and credit of their supply chain. Luckily for us we’ve got strong clients who are financially secure.
What are some of the major projects Galldris are involved in currently? We’re doing the infrastructure works on Greenford Quay for Graystar worth around £25 million. We’re also involved in a development at Royal Wharf, for Oxley. That project is being managed by Ballymore and our value on that contract is £110 million. The other large one’s we are involved in are Royal Albert Dock for Multiplex, which is
What are some of the biggest changes that have taken place in the construction industry in the UK and Ireland? Recruiting good labour against the backdrop of Brexit. There are a lot of Eastern European workers who can earn decent money back in their home countries, so they face a difficult decision. Market uncertainty with Brexit has also left a lot of foreign investors unsure of what to do. If a
Galldris cofounders Sean O’Driscoll and Donal Gallagher receiving the 2018 Building Britain Award from the Irish Post decision is made on Brexit, be it good, bad or indifferent, they could plan for the future. Without a clear direction, it’s difficult! Climate change and environmental considerations have become very prominent topics. Has Galldris made many inroads in this direction? Environmental considerations are very important. When it comes to all our plant and equipment, we have to renew our stock frequently. Innovation is a big consideration; we’re always looking for more environmentally friendly ways of doing things. For example, when we work on any project based in close proximity to a river or canal, it’s important to engage with the environmental agency on things like containing, the handling of hazardous waste and other safety aspects. Has digital technology made a large impact on the day-today running of the company? There’s always technology emerging that makes our staffs’ lives easier, whether it’s lifting heavy loads or recycling waste. We’re always investing in our plant and equipment to ensure we have the latest technology. Our plant managers are constantly looking to see what the next big thing on the market is. For example, we’ve just
purchased a new duel view dumper that eliminates the need to reverse avoiding the risk of accidents. It’s those things that make our work safer and there’s nothing more important to us than that. What major changes in the construction business can you see happening in the next few decades, and how will Galldris respond? The big change is that clients who traditionally went down the route of using large contractors to carry out the works are increasingly engaging with tier 2 contractors because of the cost savings. So, what we’re finding now is a lot of clients are engaging with us directly whereas previously the majority did so through a main contractor. Not in all instances but it’s becoming more and more prevalent. Is there one single building project that Galldris is particularly proud of? Old Oak Common Depot, the new depot for Crossrail, is a pretty high-profile job. Royal Wharf is the other one. We’ve built 3,500 units there in the space of five years when traditionally that would be built over a 10-15-year period.