The construction industry is booming on Bornholm
Construction is booming on Bornholm, and local businesses are showing that they can certainly compete for tenders. Photo: PLE
The Bornholm construction company PLE has secured two giant orders. And in general, construction companies from Bornholm are also winning many of the major contracts at a time when there is a hive of building activity on the island.
To put it mildly, the construction industry is booming on Bornholm right now. This is confirmed by Jens Koefoed, who is the director and owner of the large Bornholm construction and civil engineering company PLE.
– I have been in the company for over 30 years and will soon have owned it for 25 years, and we have never had a larger order book and higher activity than right now. It is full steam ahead. There is also a lot going on with some very large projects for which Bornholm contractors have won the tender, says Jens Koefoed, who is also proud that PLE in particular won what are likely the island's two largest contracts.
– For the Ministry of Defence, we are in the process of constructing the very large garage and equipment buildings currently being built across the entire country. We won the main contract for that, worth a quarter of a billion kroner. And it is one of the largest construction projects on Bornholm ever. In addition, among other things, we are in the process of completely renovating 170 flats for the social housing association Bo42 for a good 200 million together with one of the island's other contractors, the director says and continues:
– It shows that construction companies on Bornholm are fully competitive with the companies located on the other side of the water, as many of the major projects are indeed won by Bornholm-based companies, says the director.
For the benefit of the whole island
Bornholm construction companies are also winning a share of the municipality's tenders, but in that context the municipality is a minor player. For there are several other large projects on the way on the island, when several social housing developments are to be renovated for millions of kroner. And that benefits not only the main contractors, but also the subcontractors when an order goes to a Bornholm company, he explains:
– At PLE, for example, we always use subcontractors for painting, electrical and plumbing work. And we use Bornholm subcontractors to a large extent. Especially on the technical jobs, so I think we have a good collaboration on the island. We would also rather collaborate with other companies than say no to a job, says Jens Kofoed, who is pleased with the busy period, even though the two major contracts are overlapping right now.
At PLE, for example, we always use subcontractors for painting, electrical and plumbing work. And to a large extent, we use Bornholm-based subcontractors. Especially for the technical tasks, so I think we have a good cooperation on the island. We would also rather cooperate with other businesses than turn down a job.
– The renovations of the social housing were actually decided during the corona crisis because some funds were released out of fear that the construction industry would grind to a halt, but we have only been allowed to build now that the market has otherwise normalised, says the director, who also has the impression that his Bornholm competitors are busy at the moment.
– There is at least no doubt that the large and medium-sized construction companies on Bornholm have plenty to keep them busy, but generally there are not many unemployed people in the construction industry on the island, and that must mean that everyone has something to do, he concludes.
BY JOAN ØHRSTRØM