‘A lot better off for it’ | How small, sustainable changes are transforming Fergus Builders

A Mackay building business with a rich history servicing regional Queensland communities is securing a sustainable business future with the help of Business Chamber Queensland’s ecoBiz program.

Fergus Builders employs more than 35 people with owners Adam Wright, Ben Hilder and Nathan Borg maintaining the family business values founders Garry and Jann Fergus created more than forty years ago.

A conscious effort on sustainable business practices means the team is reducing emissions and saving money day-to-day.

Fergus Builders joined the ecoBiz program in 2021 and has since reduced their energy intensity by 20%, water intensity by 35% and waste intensity by 16%. The business is an ecoBiz three-star partner.

Adam said the business introduced solar electricity to help increase efficiencies and reduce their power bill, feeding a significant amount back into the grid, while two new recycling bins were introduced for paper and cardboard and the second for building waste.

“Sustainability is at the forefront of our minds and everybody does their part to chip in. Especially in today’s environment where materials and other costs are increasing rapidly, being conscious of waste and recycling helps lower the cost of doing business,” Adam said.

“Being sustainable is the right thing to do. It doesn’t take a lot, what we do is basic but it makes a difference.

“With the ecoBiz coach we stepped through what we were doing and they gave us some advice which was quite easy to implement.

“We have the luxury of having a decent shed and laydown area which means materials collected from projects can be recycled for other uses.

“We also recycle aluminium steel which generates some money for the boys to use in the social club.

“Not much goes to waste here, it doesn’t take much to recycle and brings us in some extra money.

“It doesn’t take any extra time to do these things and at the end of the day it helps the company to stay financially viable and we’re a lot better off for it.”

Adam and his two business partners bought the business three years ago after Adam started his career at Fergus Builders in 2003.

His business partners Ben Hilder and Nathan Borg both started as apprentices in the business 30 years and 20 years ago respectively.

The business is one of the few combined residential, industrial and commercial builders in the region, responsible for delivering some of the regions most notable buildings.

“We have maintained the family value of the company, servicing Mackay and Queensland regions,” Adam said.

“All three of us have worked our way through the business but we have kept the values which Garry and Jann started.

“We have a lot of combined experience. We were all born and bred here or up the road, we know the region very well.”