Cameron Diack

A newly qualified builder, with experience in project management and a swag of industry awards, starts a new business just before lockdown.

It sounds like the start of a bad story. Instead, Cameron Diack is proof of what can be achieved when you’re determined and have a good work ethic. And a good boss.

Cameron moved to Tauranga from Wyndham, Southland in 2015 to take on an apprenticeship with Jones Builders. A friend of Cameron’s family, Brad Jones had started a building company after spending more than 10 years on the tools, and wanted to add an apprentice to his staff that included two other qualified builders.

Brad sent Cameron out on jobs, where he got to learn practical skills, and enrolled him on the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) course at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology so he could check off the requirements for his trade easily and get added support.

Cameron says the work was varied during those four years and eventually, in the final 12 months of his apprenticeship, Brad had him oversee some projects, which really boosted his experience.

“He pushed me to my limits and gave me the opportunities when he knew I was ready for them.”

When Cameron became a qualified builder, Brad offered him a project manager position. Cameron says it was a great way to gain insight in to the entire building process including pricing up jobs. But watching Brad develop his business inspired Cameron to want to do the same.

Earlier this year, Cameron started Diack Homes and now subcontracts to Brad as well as developing his own customer base. He says the relationship works well because they’re able to help each other out with jobs and support.

“It’s the best situation because we can work as separate but complementary businesses.”

Cameron says while his overall goal is to build relationships and homes with integrity, and he's looking forward to starting some of the projects he had lined up before lockdown

“During lockdown we had some small jobs to keep us going, as well as the Government wage subsidy, but now we have a couple of exciting new builds and diverse renovations that we cannot wait to start

Cameron says he enjoyed lockdown and used it to spend time with his family and work on his business plan. He says he joined in on webinars with economists so he could understand what the future trends might be.

“I also kept busy by developing my overall business plan because I eventually want to expand my company, and put a focus towards architectural builds.

“I also want to create a good work environment for the guys working for us so we can all enjoy working with each other.”

Cameron says his advice to anyone else looking at getting in to the building industry is to find a supportive qualified builder to mentor them and to sign up with Toi Ohomai.

He says being able to attend block courses at Toi Ohomai and send evidence of his work through the app, which is used by apprentices to support their study, made it so much easier to complete his apprenticeship.

“The tutors were really supportive and helpful. In fact, it was my tutor Paul King who encouraged me to give the Regional Apprentice of the Year competition a crack and he was really proud that I won it.”