I started Lightning Brick Pavers in 2006. Since its inception, my company has provided quality paving services to local government, civil and commercial projects throughout the state. It has grown from humble beginnings and is now a diversified contracting group.I’ve always focussed on bespoke, complicated commercial projects requiring a high-level of technical expertise and understanding. A self-capitalised start-up, at the heart of my group’s survival and success story is a focus on people – developing key personnel with long tenure, retaining and developing their knowledge while providing pathways for them to grow their careers within my businesses. I’ve personally overseen the development of our industry leading wellness programme Life Beyond Paving – while our staff are our greatest asset, their wellbeing is their greatest asset.The construction industry doesn’t do collaboration well. Projects suffer because consultants, contractors, sub-contractors and builders cannot effectively align design specifications with commercial interests and quality is the victim. I’ve worked hard to build a capability dedicated to providing design consultants and engineers with tailored feedback, technical details and quantified information during the design process – helping to improve the realisation of design integrity along with buildability and the unique requirements of working with high-end surface treatments. Together, contractors and consultants have the capacity to vastly improve the quality of product that clients receive by collaborating earlier in the project life-cycle in a manner founded upon mutual respect that recognises each other’s subject-matter expertise and capacity to contribute to an end product that endures.I’ve expanded my business group both organically and through strategic acquisitions. We’ve constantly delivered revenue and dividend growth across our 14 years of operations – this reflects our market position as a trusted, innovative supplier of services in an industry historically characterised by poor service and new entries.I’m passionate about good governance and the fundamental difference it can make in the SME space. If you’d like to connect to discuss commercial opportunities or have a query regarding technical project requirements, reach out to me directly here on LinkedIn or email me at paul.claxton@lightningbrick.com