Onsite barber service a first for NDH site workers.
The connection between looking good and feeling good is not new, but a local barber is helping bring a whole new approach to New Dunedin Hospital construction workers.
Believed to be a first for a construction site within New Zealand, Jamie Cooper-Siggleko of MAI Barbers has teamed up with Workforce Central Dunedin to spend one day each month on the New Dunedin Hospital construction site, providing haircuts to the team.
For him, a good haircut is a standard, not a goal.
“Barbering has helped me so much in my life, it helped me find myself, and any way I can pay this forward means everything to me,” says Jamie.
“I was considering a mobile barbershop service, but instead have recently opened a new barbershop (MAI Barbers) in Dunedin’s Princes Street, teaming up in the space with tattooist Dell Reuben from Redemption Ink.
I know the long hours that construction workers put in, and coming onsite to provide haircuts to the team means a small break in their busy day and that their valuable spare time can be spent with family and friends, rather than trying to fit in a haircut.
I was blown away when I met the team from Workforce Central Dunedin and MATES in Construction. What they are doing to go that ‘extra mile’ to help support the wellbeing of workers onsite is phenomenal, and I wanted to be part of it - its everything I believe in,” he says.
Raymond Clark, Operations Manager at Workforce Central Dunedin says that while it may sound unusual, a good haircut is extremely therapeutic and this is another example of everyone playing their part to improve onsite culture.
“We have only just started this initiative and Southbase (the lead contractor for the Outpatient Building) have been right behind it all the way.
The team already really appreciate Jamie’s considerable skill and humble manner – he’s a great person to talk to. Anyone getting a haircut will pay a koha which will then donated to a local charity nominated by the team,” says Raymond.
On Friday 22 December 2023, $597.10 was donated to Women's Refuge.
Jamie Cooper-Siggleko pictured onsite doing his first onsite haircut for Kyle Thomson, Quantity Surveyor, Southbase Construction. The onsite barbershop features artwork by Dell Reuben from Redemption Ink on its walls and an original 1876 barber chair which was kindly donated by a member of the construction team.
