Putting its money behind a commitment to Hawke’s Bay, family-held business HSM Group is investing $3.2 million to a develop a new purpose-built site with NZ-leading security monitoring technology.
It will be home to a team of approximately 90 staff and Matt Stevenson, HSM director says it will easily accommodate double that number within three years.
He’s comfortable that projections of sustained business growth will be achieved despite the Covid pandemic. In part, because Hawke’s Bay is somewhat sheltered from the negative economic impacts due to the continued activity of our produce sector, but mainly because the one-stop nature of the full-service security and fire protection business is pretty unique in New Zealand and puts HSM at a distinct advantage.
“We cover all the bases and that gives us a cutting edge in New Zealand,” Matt says. “Many of our competitors have been sold and broken up into different business. We’re attracting nation-wide businesses because we can manage all their needs with one contact.”
He also acknowledges that security and compliance services on offer continue to be needed in tough times.
Currently HSM Group occupies two sites on opposite sides of St Aubyn Street, Hastings. The new site, on what was once the Soma factory on the corner of Caroline Road and Alexandra Street, will bring all operations – monitoring, security, guards, fire, and compliance – to the 820sq m premises.
Construction work started pre-Covid and is set to be completed in October. With a strong desire to provide an “awesome” work environment, the new HSM home is highly customised: a state-of-the-art monitoring station, the latest in office furniture and facilities, break out areas with soundproofed zones, locker and shower areas for guards, new training facilities, and staff kitchen area with an outdoor space.
Planning for the new premises has taken 16 to 18 months and Matt says it’s not over yet. “There’s lots of thought and planning now going into the changeover so that monitoring of alarms, CCTV cameras and other security surveillance around the country continues uninterrupted.”