MLC Quantity Surveyors celebrates 75th anniversary

Companies operate in 25 year cycles after which they need to re-invent themselves or risk decay and decline. MLC has managed to do just this, says Mike Stricker, CEO of the MLC group of companies.

In their first quarter century, they concentrated on public works and mining projects; the second was taken up by a retail and commercial projects explosion; and the third re-invention was focused on the hospitality sector.

Experience in the hospitality and retail sectors are the main factors which have enabled MLC to expand their operations to Mauritius, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and very recently Doha, Qatar.

For many years, MLC serviced a significant number of projects in Mauritius from their South African offices and in 2006, the group decided to set up a permanent office on the island.

The local office is managed by resident associates Yusuf Nabeemeeah and Shilpa Nahaboo, and oversees by Yan Bathfield, one of MLC’s Mauritian directors based in Cape Town who travels to the island on a monthly basis. “This close link between MLC SA and MLC Mauritius has worked well for the group and its clients, as not only does the exchange of information ensure that our international experience is shared locally, but it has also facilitated investments into Mauritius by some of MLC’s South African clients. Similarly, we are well placed to service Mauritian investors who are looking for development opportunities in Africa”, says Yan Bathfield.

Alliance with Cheda

A notable success in the past year was a strategic alliance with the Chedza Group, owners of the South African branch of Crawford & Crawford Loss Adjustors which, in turn, has opened doors in the reinstatement of insurance losses sector.

MLC now crosses the threshold of their fourth twenty five year cycle and move ever closer to their centenary, at a time of world economic crisis. The company is not immune to these conditions and has had to make some tough calls on restructuring certain aspects of the business. “Whilst there is much competition in the market from other QS firms, we firmly believe that we offer an unrivalled level of service, providing relevant and proactive quantity surveying and cost management services which consistently control costs, limit risk and add value for its clients. Our feasibility studies are comprehensive and our reporting systems cover every aspect of a development and provide our clients with the data they need to make timely, informed decisions. MLC is internationally recognised for its expertise in the field of quantity surveying and cost consultancy. The group has stayed clear of branching out in the project management field as we believe that clients are best served by appointing separate consultants”, adds Yan Bathfield.

Finally, Yusuf Nabeemeeah stressed that “whilst MLC is an international company, we are firmly entrenched in the Mauritian property services sector. We are passionate about what we do and are confident about our future on the island. So much so that we have just signed up for some new office premises which will be operational in January 2013”.