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The HistoryOf
Holbri Engineering
Holbri Engineering started by Robert and Tracey Hollis renting a small workshop on Hogarth Road, Elizabeth South on November 11th 1996. Using just the skeleton staff of three people and with the goal of running a successful business of their own, their first job came from building sign frames for the City of Salisbury.
Stock items consisted of floor safes, gates, benches, sign frames and pins and in a short space of time, Holbri rented the adjacent workshop due to an increase in their workload. The business was successful with work flowing from General Motors Holden & surrounding Councils. In order to accommodate for larger projects and an increase in employees, it was time to purchase industrial land and build a larger workshop.
In the process of building the new premises on Wiley Street, Elizabeth South, as well as running the workshop on Hogarth Road, tragedy struck the Hollis family with Robert Hollis losing his life to a skydiving accident in April 2003.
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Tracey, the mother of two (Leah 13, Michael 11) decided to finish the build whilst still running the business.
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The employees banded together and eventually, the new workshop opened in July 2005. Martyn Brimage, brother of Tracey, stepped in to manage Holbri in January 2006. "During my time at Holbri Engineering, Tracey and I built up the business to the level where we were required to operate two shifts to meet demand." Mr Brimage said.
At the peak with 18 employees across two shifts GMH was largely the company's turnover. "Over time we trained a number of apprentices one of which was Michael. His enthusiasm and drive to succeed proved to be in his favour. This is evident in his achievements to date". "The opportunity to work alongside my sister Tracey and family has been the highlight of my life. Our achievements were a direct result of trust and willingness to support me in all of my endeavours." "I will always be proud of what we achieved together", Martyn Brimage said.
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Taking on Holbri Engineering as a second-generation is a privilege and something I want to be proud of doing.
- Michael Hollis
Michael’s journey at Holbri officially started straight from high school in October 2009 despite years of helping during the school holidays prior. He completed an Engineering Fabrication Apprenticeship and stayed on as a Tradesman until the closure. With the closure of Holbri in January 2015, a few of the employees continued trading at the Wiley Street premises giving them the ideal opportunity to start their own business.
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" I feel very honoured to be able to trade under the Holbri name (The name comes from Hollis & Tracey’s maiden name Brimage). I’m here to provide the same quality and work ethic they showed in the past."
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"Throughout my life, I have always wanted to make my Dad proud and continue the family name and I still do, but as I’ve grown up I realise that I have an incredible and brave mother. When my Dad passed away the new business premise was half-built, the family home was being fully renovated and my sister Leah and I needed looking after. To have the mental strength and resilience to prevail is incredible. Taking on Holbri Engineering as a second-generation is a privilege and something I want to be proud of doing."
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It’s now time for me to start the family business again!
- Michael Hollis