Big ambitions: Michael Malherbe, Bay Building CEO. Photo: Jason South
IN THE past 25 years, a local Melbourne company has turned into one of the largest insurance builders in Australia.
''We were virtually almost forced by the industry itself to become bigger,'' said Bay Building Group CEO and founder Michael Malherbe.
''You have to be able to operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day.''
Now Bay Building has been awarded The Age Dun & Bradstreet Victorian Business Award in the building and allied services category.
Bay Building specialises in rebuilding homes and businesses damaged by insurable events, such as fires and floods. The group comprises three businesses: Bay Building Services, Linx Content Services and Flooring Services Australia, to fully restore damaged properties.
After starting out with one office in the Melbourne area, Bay Building has expanded to 10 offices nationwide and has a new office opening on November 28 in Adelaide.
''A claim can be $2000 or $2 million, depending on the circumstances,'' Mr Malherbe said.
Mr Malherbe is one of four directors of the company, serving with his son Kane Malherbe, Brendan Allwood and Mark Wilson. Mr Malherbe's daughters also work for Bay Building. Despite being involved now, they did not always intend to join the family business.
''It's something that I didn't want to do initially,'' the younger Mr Malherbe said.
''I just started working there part time when I was 18 and after two or three years, I really enjoyed it.''
Father and son hope to see Bay Building continue to expand in the coming years. According to the younger Mr Malherbe, the sky is the limit.
''It's going to be a big challenge over the next two years.''
Bay Building will begin looking for sites in the greater Sydney area next year, specifically Newcastle, Wollongong and Parramatta.
With the company well positioned for the future, the senior Mr Malherbe said he was looking forward to some more leisure time.
''I want to work on my golf handicap,'' he laughed.
''Hopefully I can sit back and relax a bit in the coming years, but it's hard when it's in your blood.''
