When Hugh Sheard first picked up a trowel at 14, it was never meant to be a career move.
School was not working. His parents thought a stint labouring with his uncle, a bricklayer, might teach him a lesson. Instead, it did the opposite. He found clarity in the physicality of the work, satisfaction in seeing progress at the end of each day, and purpose in learning a trade that rewarded effort with tangible results.
More than two decades later, Sheard is the owner of HNS Bricklaying, a business known for its consistency, professionalism and refusal to cut corners. His journey mirrors a broader story playing out across the construction industry: tradespeople who build careers not by chasing shortcuts, but by committing to standards.
Learning the trade before running the business
Sheard’s early years were shaped by the people around him, particularly his uncle.
“He had high standards,” Sheard recalls. “You could not rush things or gloss over mistakes. You had to take pride in what you were doing.”
Those expectations were reinforced by a series of employers who demanded more than Sheard sometimes expected of himself. At the time, he admits, he did not always recognise his own value. But being pushed by experienced operators instilled discipline and consistency that now underpin how HNS Bricklaying operates.
That grounding also explains why Sheard did not rush into business ownership. Although bricklaying became his full-time career early on, he stepped away at various points, including time in more corporate environments. Each time, he came back to the trade.
“Bricklaying was always what made sense,” he says.
Turning it into a business was not about scale or status. It was about control over quality, choosing the right projects, and doing the job properly. It also opened the door to something Sheard sees as increasingly important: bringing young people into a trade that is quietly disappearing.
What builders really value in trades
HNS Bricklaying has built a strong reputation with builders, not through marketing, but through repeat work.
According to Sheard, what clients value most is simple: attention to detail and accountability.
“If something is not right, it gets fixed,” he says. “Our reputation matters, and we are not willing to compromise on that.”
The business prioritises long-term builder relationships over one-off jobs. Consistency, reliability and professionalism on site are non-negotiable. That extends beyond brickwork itself to how the team communicates, presents themselves, and handles issues when they arise.
For Sheard, quality brickwork is not just about appearance on handover day. It is about confidence years later, knowing there are no hidden problems waiting to surface.
What “doing it properly” actually looks like
In an industry under constant pressure to move faster, Sheard is clear about where quality is won or lost.
“Doing it properly starts at the beginning,” he says. “Setting out correctly, checking levels, making sure foundations are right before you build on top of them.”
Rushing to hit numbers or timelines, in his view, only creates downstream issues. Brickwork becomes a permanent part of someone’s home. Cutting corners early compromises everything that follows.
On site, doing it properly also means organisation, safety, and clear communication with other trades. These fundamentals, Sheard argues, matter just as much as technical skill.
The builders who get the best from their trades
Having worked closely with builders for years, Sheard sees a clear pattern in which projects run smoothly.
“The best builders treat trades as part of the team from the start,” he says. “Not just brought in for one stage, but involved early with clear plans and conversations.”
Early site visits, proper briefings and openness give trades the context they need to deliver well. Builders who understand that each trade is one piece of a larger puzzle are far more likely to avoid mistakes and rework.
Price-driven decision-making, on the other hand, often undermines outcomes.
“Good builders do not just chase the cheapest number,” Sheard says. “They value experience, reliability and quality, and that respect comes back in the way trades show up.”
Adapting to a changing industry
Bricklaying, like the rest of construction, has changed significantly over the years.
Tools and equipment have evolved rapidly. Exposure to newer systems, including advanced gear from Makita, has reinforced Sheard’s belief that investing in the right technology improves both efficiency and workmanship.
Materials have been more mixed. While some products have improved, others vary in quality, requiring closer attention on site. Sustainability has also become more prominent, with suppliers such as Cement Australia leading efforts in low-carbon alternatives.
Despite these shifts, Sheard is clear that the fundamentals remain unchanged.
“Getting things right early, working carefully and keeping standards high still matter just as much as they ever did.”
The unseen challenge of running a trade business
For Sheard, the hardest part of running HNS Bricklaying was not the work on site.
“I was never taught how to run a business,” he says. “I knew the trade, but not the systems, technology or paperwork.”
Like many tradespeople, he learned the business side as he went. As the company grew, the challenges evolved: knowing when to implement systems, when to bring in support, and how to adapt operations for larger or more complex projects.
Cashflow remains a constant consideration, particularly as project sizes and payment terms change. It is not unique to trades, but it is critical to running a sustainable operation without compromising delivery.
Advice for the next generation
With skills shortages dominating industry conversations, Sheard is passionate about apprenticeships done properly.
“Take your time and learn the trade,” he advises. “Bricklaying is not something you rush.”
He cautions against the expectation of rapid progression, noting that long-term careers are built through patience and incremental improvement. The foundations, both literal and professional, matter.
Despite talk of automation and AI, Sheard sees bricklaying as a resilient career path.
“Quality brickwork still relies on skilled people,” he says. “If you are willing to learn, work hard and take pride in what you do, it can be a very rewarding career.”
Redefining what a good trade business looks like
Asked what makes a good trade business today, Sheard looks beyond output.
“It is about uplifting the industry,” he says. “Changing the perception of trades starts with how we operate day to day.”
He believes apprenticeships should be viewed alongside university degrees as equally valid pathways, not fallbacks. That shift, he argues, only happens if trades take responsibility for raising standards and professionalism across the board.
Long term, Sheard wants construction to be an industry people are proud to be part of. That means quality work, professional conduct, mental health awareness, and genuine support for the next generation.
It is a philosophy that aligns closely with the mission of The Good Builder: restoring trust and raising the bar by spotlighting operators who do things properly, even when it is harder.
Find out more about Hugh and HNS Bricklaying here.
0 Comments