Design & Build met up with Simon Mizzi, the driving force behind MBI Developers Group, who has a rather interesting point of view on how to run his companies while also showing us how he motivates employees and creates competitive advantage in the process.
The MBI Developers Group is the mother company for its two main arms, namely MBI Construction and MBI Installations (for the finishes required). “All are Limited companies in their own right though, to be precise, MBI Installations was the first one set up some 8 years ago. Subsequently this led to the setting up of the MBI Developers as the overall entity to create the group about seven years ago so that we could give a more wholesome service to our clients,” explained Simon Mizzi. He is himself a fully licensed builder as well as a fully qualified electrician who used to run an electrical company (not his own) before setting up MBI.
His foresight has always been to have a good working ambience for himself and his employees, resulting in better output from them, and a higher quality of work which benefits the customer. “Naturally, the remuneration has to be rewarding and this is a vital factor which keeps the workers happy and looking ahead too” he said, adding that “Salaries are very good, with extra performance bonuses given; especially once all our internal deadlines per project are met,” he explained, clarifying also that MBI constantly strives to set their own internal deadlines which are scheduled before those requested by the client.
Salaries are very good, with extra performance bonuses given; especially once all our internal deadlines per project are met
CHOOSING THE WORK FORCE
Simon explained that their main philosophy is to work as fast as possible without ever dipping down from their set quality standards. He added that it is the quality of the workforce and their capability and will to work professionally to deadlines that actually makes all the difference. “We do our utmost to keep our skilled workers as engaged and motivated as possible; to remain with the company and actually look forward to the next challenging job.”
“Additionally, our experience has taught us how to filter the work force so that we only employ the best!” Simon added that part of their secret is that most of their skilled employees have been with the company for a long time too, and this then becomes more than an everyday job for them. “They show pride in their work and in seeing it completed and inaugurated by the client!” he added.
Over the years their experience has been built on what they achieved step by step. “In fact, today we are doing complete development projects, from the initial demolition right through to its finalisation and delivery to the client thanks to the reliable efforts of our staff. Whatever the job and its problems we can guarantee to our clients that we have the resources and manpower to cope with it,” he added.
Whatever the job and its problems we can guarantee to our clients that we have the resources and manpower to cope with it
One can therefore say that MBI Developers is an organisation of sufficient girth to muster experiences and manpower to start and complete several projects simultaneously from start to finish within the stipulated time frames. Indeed, each job also has its allocated store centre where equipment and tools are kept until the complete finalisation of the project in hand. As Simon explained to us, this is another of the competitive advantages of the companies in the MBI Developers group, in a way that they are also self-sufficient in all the materials they work with, starting from paints and finishing with gypsum, electrical conduits and wiring.
MBI operates with a 600 m sq of fully stocked and dedicated warehousing at their main location and this is available at all times for all their projects at hand. The Group also has various other smaller storage depots spread around the islands to be able to maintain their stocks at a constant level for the quicker supply of client needs.
JOBS WELL DONE
Simon mentioned that they have many jobs that they were particularly happy with “having handled them to near perfection,” as he put it. But pressed to just mention one he commented that he felt proud and particularly happy with a start-to-finish high class project in Xemxija, that had been done in just about one year. “20 apartments, a very complicated site since it was in a clay area and required a lot of work driven into the ground for the foundations. We are very satisfied with our performance, especially when considering the seamless execution of a highly complex project!”
MBI operates with a 600 m sq of fully stocked and dedicated warehousing
Talking about architects, Simon added that he feels very comfortable working with architects on projects, whether they are his own or appointed by the clients. That MBI works so seamlessly with two renowned and dynamic architects in particular attests to their propensity to colaborate with Malta’s periti. “Their involvement is key to the company” he added. “Knowing that we can call upon their advice and expertise at any point on our projects motivates our developers, and project owners and leaders to strengthen their endeavours with us, allotting more and more of the projects to MBI.”
The real satisfaction that his job gives him, explains Simon, is seeing the complete satisfaction of his clients once their projects are delivered to spec, on time and in budget. “With us there is never a “Can’t be done” for an answer” he said. “There is always a way to solve a problem; it just needs determination.”
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