Albany construction company feted
Albany’s largest residential building company won the top prize at the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual business awards held on Saturday night.
Ryde Building Company dominated the awards, winning five gongs including business of the year at a ceremony at Great Southern Grammar.
The other awards won were the award for businesses with 11 to 20 full-time employees, industry development award, customer service business of the year, and owner Nigel Ryde was named business person of the year.
Mr Ryde said the business’ greatest achievement was its ability to compete with the Perth market.
“We have the ability to compete with the Perth market, when Perth companies bring ideas to Albany, we have proven we can compete,” he said.
“We have introduced more procedures that affect how we do business and made customer service improvements.”
Ryde named business person of the year
Young winner builds connections
Mr Ryde said an important strategic move was relocating the business headquarters from Sanford Road to Newbey Street, providing a shopfront and more professional offices and showroom.
The company built about 75 homes a year, from granny flats to two-storey homes, Mr Ryde said.
“Whether it is your first home or retirement home, everyone is important,” he said. “I enjoy building houses for young people — it gives me a buzz.”
Mr Ryde said he tried to ensure the business was community-focused and spent $28,500 on community projects last financial year.
Ryde Building Company has built a charity house sold at an auction to raise $280,000 for Albany Surf Life Saving Club, raised $8400 for the Albany MenShed and Men’s Resource Centre, and supports many sporting clubs.
The company’s five-year plan includes introducing a virtual walk-through of two new display homes available on the website and YouTube to give people who do not live in Albany the experience.
Ryde has won the Master Builders Association excellence in customer service award in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the Housing Industry Association awards for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
