equipment, and they’ve done a lot of projects with us. They’ve done the Ministry of Legal Affairs with us, and they’ve always extended to us any technical assistance we need,” Anton explains. “If we have an issue with a pump and want to know what the best solution is, their engineers always recommend something to us. Or if we have reservations about performing and meeting the requirements of a building. Porters Agri was there to say, ‘Okay, listen, this is what we think needs to happen.’” The relationship has weathered financial challenges, with Porters providing extended credit facilities during cash flow difficulties on projects. “We definitely appreciate Charles Porter and his family, as it’s also a family business over there. But regarding pumping equipment and supplier support, he’s done a lot. And he’s been around as a supplier and a key part of our supply chain since I entered the business in 2008, so, it’s definitely a long-standing relationship that we’ll continue to move forward with.” PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE Anthony James Plumbing’s capital allocation strategy focuses heavily on human resources development, mirroring broader industry challenges where skilled labor shortages affect plumbing companies globally. The company has expanded employee benefits significantly, moving beyond basic compensation to comprehensive support packages that address healthcare and professional development needs. “For this fiscal year, we are investing in our people. We are adding a fringe benefit when you work, we will add extra money to your pay packet as a bonus because we appreciate attendance. We’re adding group healthcare because we understand that for people, their health is their wealth,” Anton explains. The training investments include formal education support.“I’ve just had a member of staff embark on an introductory project management course that the company sponsored. So, we are really making an effort to invest in our people.” Equipment expansion targets the growing maintenance segment, which provides consistent cash flow between larger projects. “We are 21 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 12, ISSUE 09 ANTHONY JAMES PLUMBING, MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LIM
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