Darius Narusevicius has been a fixture on London construction sites for more than two decades, progressing from a general operative to a highly qualified site manager for one of the UK's largest and most exclusive primary contractors. Now, after a career spent delivering complex projects across the commercial and high-end domestic sectors, he is bringing his extensive knowledge to Malta, launching DMN Construction. 

“The driving force behind this move is a desire for change and a recognition of opportunity. After spending 25 years of my life in the UK, I decided that the time came to change something," explains Mr Narusevicius. " I’m not getting any younger, lack of sun, lack of vitamin D, and I thought Malta would be ideal with such huge opportunities for the construction industry." 

Having visited the island annually for the past 15 years, he observed a landscape in constant transformation. "I could see a gradual change in infrastructure and a massive development," he says, which solidified his idea to bring his expertise in construction management to the Maltese market. His new venture will focus on finishing properties to an exceptional standard, with an emphasis on project management, quality control, and a philosophy of honesty that he believes will set him apart. 

The core philosophy 

While many builders promise high quality, Mr Narusevicius defines his approach as a relentless focus on "attention to the detail." This is not just a slogan, but a rigorous methodology rooted in his decades of experience. 

"The way I work, I would manage the project from day one," he states. "I would be heavily involved in project management. For instance, tiling, I'd be keeping the quality control from day one. And if I don't believe that this is up to my standard, I would simply say, 'Guys, I don't believe this is what we agreed. So, I would like you to leave and get somebody else instead.'" 

He describes a chain reaction where poor workmanship at an early stage, such as plastering, compromises every trade that follows. His solution is constant, hands-on supervision. "I believe that quality control from day one is key in our industry... I'll be visiting sites on a daily basis and then just guiding people in the right direction." 

This passion for the final product is what drives him. He speaks of the "buzz" of transforming a shell of bare walls into a finished home. "You see the reaction of people... when they get the keys and they walk in their new home. We open a bottle of Champagne, and I produce them a key." This pride in craftsmanship is central to his business model, which aims to build long-term relationships rather than just complete one-off projects. 

Honesty and realistic timelines in a competitive market 

Entering Malta's fiercely competitive construction industry requires a clear point of differentiation. For DMN Construction, this will be founded on transparency and integrity. 

"I want to be different. I want to stand out. To start with, I want to be honest," Mr Narusevicius asserts. "I don't believe in making a profit only and ripping the client off. It's not in my books." He outlines a scenario where an unforeseen problem, like damp, is discovered mid-project. Instead of hiding the issue, his approach is to present the client with options immediately. 

"I'll be honest with you now. The budget increases a little bit, but we just sorted it. This is the way I work. I don't hide problems from the client." 

This approach extends to project timelines. He acknowledges that clients often have unrealistic expectations, but he refuses to compromise quality for speed. "If you want to do that in a month's time, I'm out of it because I cannot deliver the project to my standard," he says. "You can have what we call in the UK a 'cowboy builder'. He'll do it in a month's time, but your building will collapse a bit later. And you'll be calling me to come and put it right." 

A culture of safety  

Another significant difference he has observed is in the area of health and safety. "I see a lot of health and safety lacking. Immediate danger. In some of the projects I can see a lot of fall protection issues... I want to be different. I want to improve that. It's going to cost me more, but I will put heras fencing up. I prevent my builder from falling over and injuring himself." 

His commitment to safety is personal. He recalls conversations with workers in the UK who were not following protocols. "I used to pull them to the office one-on-one... and say, 'Do you have a family? Do you have kids? Would you like to see your son tonight? Or would you like to see your wife coming to A&E?' I want my workers coming into work safe and going home in the same manner." 

His leadership style is that of a hands-on team player, not a remote manager.  

"I want you to come back and work with me, not for me. This is very important. We are a team. I'm only as good as you guys are." This ethos means he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. "If I see a project is behind, I jump in. I don't mind. I walk in with dirty clothes and if I see guys struggling, I would bring my tools and help him." 

The road ahead 

The immediate plan for DMN Construction is to start small, building a trusted team and completing initial projects to build a reputation. The ultimate goal, however, is ambitious. "The aim would be to build the company up to the level where we will be able to buy a plot and start from scratch, from ground level to the roof, and then complete the finish to the last detail." 

By combining UK-standard site management, an unwavering commitment to quality and safety, and a philosophy built on honesty, Darius Narusevicius and DMN Construction aim to become a byword for reliability and excellence in Malta's construction industry.