Just as they help lay solid foundations for buildings that stand the test of time, so too is Foster Group creating solid foundations for a thriving community.

The Foster Group, responsible for the design and construction of a multitude of commercial buildings in the region, is growing its business based on a culture of generosity.

Fosters commercial manager Leonard Gardner spoke to The Waikato Story recently and explained that the company is committed to its people – it’s about how the company looks after each other and those in the wider community.

Part of looking after each other is the Group’s commitment of a decent percentage of profit that is placed into a non-charitable Trust each year. That money is then directed to three circles.

The first is staff. They are rewarded with the likes of Christmas bonuses. Then there is the next circle – the communities that staff are involved in… things like sports, school, cultural and church groups. This year Fosters gifted $500 to each of its 175 staff members who get to choose where they gift that money. That ranges from things like drink bottles for school sports teams to transport for a gospel choir competing in a Wellington competition. 

Then there is the wider community, where the 45-year-old company contributes to initiatives and projects that have an impact in the Waikato community.

Staff understand it’s about generosity, not entitlement. 

“They see that the ethos is about looking after people, from staff to customers to our supply chain,” said Leonard.

“It’s about us looking after the people who help us to succeed.”

That ethos ensures Fosters attracts the right staff – and keeps them. 

“People here understand that our culture comes from a place of pride and purpose in the work being undertaken by everyone involved at Fosters.”

Its commitment to people is a key part of Fosters’ strategy for a long-term sustainable company, and growing leaders is a fundamental part of this. 

Part of that is the Group’s apprenticeship scheme. Fosters has provided apprenticeships and many of those have stayed with Fosters – some are now senior site managers, project managers, even shareholders.

So how is business for Fosters at the moment?

“Business in the Waikato is fantastic from our perspective,” Leonard said.

“I’m not sure if it’s linked up with the fact that we’ve got this new way of doing business around trust and purpose or whether it just happens to coincide, but our ethos is about looking after people and our community., customers, staff, supply chain.

“It’s tough in the construction market at the moment in terms of resourcing projects, but I like to think because we’ve looked after people for so long we get better service than most. So, when Fosters and someone else want you to do something, you hopefully support Fosters because you know when things tighten up they’ll still be the one looking after you and making sure you get paid on time.”

Clearly, their culture of taking care of people is paying off. The company has outgrown its current location and is set to move its operation into a new, larger site soon.

Foster Construction’s first location was in Tasman Road, Te Rapa. When they’d outgrown those premises, they moved to a new, purpose-built location north of Tasman Road, off The Boulevard, 11 years ago. At the time, they had about 55 staff then, with 10 of those based in the office. Now, there are 175 staff with 45 of those office-based.

Their new location – still in Te Rapa – has been designed with the company value’s in mind. That means teams will be located where they need to be, so they can operate symbiotically and allow for cross-pollination.

There will be a café and meeting room on site too, for use by Fosters staff as well as by the public. Again, that feeds into their commitment to providing spaces the community to thrive.

The Group clearly believes in helping the community flourish – something the Momentum Foundation, of which Leonard is the chair, is tasked with.

“My involvement with Momentum… I understand what impacts being philanthropic can have.”

Like many other businesses, Fosters’ philanthropy has flown under the radar. But Leonard says it’s time people put their hands up and shared what they’re doing in that space, to encourage others to do the same.

“Collectively we can make a big difference to our region.”