MURRAY & DICKSON CONSTRUCTION

Rising High

Showcasing resilience, adaption and innovation to thrive in SA construction

It is an extremely challenging period for the South African construction industry as is evidenced by the number of contractors that have already gone into business rescue.

“M&D has managed to buck the trend and we have been focused on growing our company in a shrinking market and tough economic conditions. In order to do this, we had to use one eye as a telescope, so we could look into the future and align our strategy to our environment, whilst using the other eye as a microscope, to ensure the daily operational issues were being managed well.”

For Rukesh Raghubir, CEO of M&D Construction, the need to differentiate and innovate has never been more important.

A construction sector that is recovering from recession and facing very low growth again this year, companies have been forced to revaluate the way they do things in a bid to become more efficient.

“Constantly identifying areas for improvement and adapting and thriving through change – these are both fundamental pillars of M&D Construction Group’s rapid growth and diversification,” Raghubir continues.

“We have survived these political shocks by having a resilient management team, sufficient cash reserves to weather tumultuous episodes, and always focusing on servicing clients to the best of our ability, guided by our core values.”

M&D is well-versed in dealing with market fluctuations. Established in 1982 with only a few fixed assets to its name, the firm has grown into a diversified operation with a strong presence in the building, civil construction and roads and earthworks industries.

This translates into an inventory of 100 items of capital equipment which are used on project sites, and a landmark turnover of R1 billion this past financial year.

Raghubir joined the company in 2006, from Group Five. “I was excited by the prospect of taking M&D from a small unknown company and turning it into a force to be reckoned with in the SA construction space,” he recalls.

This has been achieved through what the CEO describes as an unwavering commitment to “growing a great company with great people and great partnerships”, referred to internally as the four Gs.

It is a vision supported by core values, which include: ‘being safe’ on project sites; ‘doing it right’ first time and every time; ‘finding the best way’ by constantly innovating; and ‘doing what we say’ by always delivering on very high expectations. All of this, crucially, is underpinned by M&D’s ‘Khula Nathi’ motto, which translates from isiZulu to ‘grow with us’.