At a time when many businesses are hunkering down for a period of consolidation, leading property and building consultancy Maynard Marks has broadened its social impact programme in a commitment to excellence within the field.
The business is the latest sponsorship partner to join the Keystone Trust network – New Zealand’s largest not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting students pursuing careers in the property and construction sectors. This sponsorship includes financial support, mentoring, and practical work experience opportunities for the trust’s scholarship recipients.
Maynard Marks Director Stuart Wilson says, “We recognise our ongoing responsibility to support education and development within the industry. While we have previously sponsored tertiary students, we sought to refine our approach to reach those who needed support the most. The trust—with their broad network and enduring presence in the industry—effectively aligned with what we were looking for.
“It’s no secret there is a deficit of skilled construction specialists in New Zealand – we hope to help address this both through internal workforce development and our support of the trust, where we can nurture homegrown talent, enabling social mobility and enduring change for the industry.”
Maynard Marks notes that recent economic pressures have catalysed a change in project demand, which has meant a shifting landscape for students and recent graduates.
“Clients are increasingly looking for best-value solutions, which sometimes includes retaining and maintaining existing assets rather than funding and developing new, which is a crucial area of expertise for us as existing building specialists.
Caption: Keystone Trust scholarship recipient Nick Bycroft joins Maynard Marks Building Surveyor Malcolm Arnold on a site visit.
“Along with financial considerations, change is also driven from an increased desire for sustainable solutions that meet evolving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks, like the ability to minimise embodied carbon emissions from raw materials, and waste from demolition,” Wilson says.
Amid this shift in industry trends, new opportunities are emerging for students, providing the next generation with more scope to discover their niche in the sector.
Building Surveying is a growing profession that remains relatively unestablished. Maynard Marks employs the largest team of building surveyors in the country and benefits from a rich and holistic understanding of New Zealand’s building stock.
“This expertise is bolstered by a broader team of consultants, including architects, quantity surveyors, project managers, structural engineers and asbestos specialists, enabling us to support our clients through every stage of a building’s lifecycle whilst offering valuable insights and practical work experience opportunities for the trust’s student network,” Wilson says.
Like many good partnerships, Maynard Marks’ relationship with Keystone has evolved organically following a recommendation from the firm’s Business Development and Marketing Manager, Ruth Tyson, who brought valuable insights from her previous experience with the trust.
“For every dollar invested by our sponsors, there is a six-dollar social impact return on investment that benefits the whole nation, as the trust supports a more confident, capable and educated young workforce,” says Amanda Stanes, Keystone Trust General Manager.
“As we celebrate Keystone’s 30th year nurturing talent and providing opportunities for students, we are ever grateful for the support of industry leaders like Maynard Marks and their ongoing efforts to expand their reach and impact.
“Aotearoa-New Zealand is full of talent who could succeed with the right support and opportunity. Providing the funds for scholarships, mentoring, and practical on-the-job work experience means that more of them can,” she says.
For further media enquiries, please contact
Amanda Stanes
Keystone Trust – General Manager
M: 021 689 380
E: amanda@keystonetrust.org.nz
Ruth Tyson
Maynard Marks – Business Development and Marketing Manager
M: 022 161 8808
E: ruth.tyson@maynardmarks.co.nz
