MAC Surfacing – Leading the MAC Way: A Conversation with Jake Wherton and Adrian Sweet

At the heart of MAC Surfacing is more than machinery and infrastructure. The business has always been driven by people, family values and a culture that has remained consistent even as the company has expanded.

Two individuals helping lead that next chapter are Managing Director Jake Wherton and Sales Director Adrian Sweet.

Both represent the progression, loyalty and commitment that define MAC Surfacing.

Jake has spent years working his way through the business to become Managing Director, while Adrian’s path to Sales Director and Shareholder is one of MAC’s most compelling internal stories — joining the business as a planer driver before working his way up through Sales Manager to Sales Director, and becoming a Shareholder in 2026.

Together, they are helping steer MAC Surfacing through a period of growth while ensuring the family business values that built the company remain firmly in place.

We spoke to the influential duo about a variety of things about the business, starting right at its heart…

HI: Why are the company values so important to you?

Jake Wherton (JW): “The values are everything because they shape how people behave when nobody’s watching. Anyone can talk about quality or customer service, but values are what actually drive standards day in and day out. At MAC, we want people who care about the job, care about each other, and care about the customer outcome. Those things matter just as much as technical ability.”

Adrian Sweet (AS): “I think the values are especially important because of how the business has grown. When you become bigger, it’s easy for companies to lose their identity. MAC has never wanted that. We still want people to feel like they’re part of a team where hard work is recognised and everyone pulls in the same direction.”

HI: What does the complete surfacing solution mean to you?

JW: “For me, it means reliability from start to finish. Clients want confidence that the contractor they appoint can handle every aspect professionally, safely and efficiently. It’s planning, communication, logistics, quality control and reacting properly when challenges, or dare I even say problems, come up.”

AS: “It also means having the right people and the right equipment to deliver consistently. We’ve invested heavily because we want to control quality across every stage of the process. The complete solution is about giving clients true peace of mind.”

HI: What do you feel makes MAC stand out?

AS: “I think it’s the mentality of the people. There’s a real pride within the business. We’ve got teams that genuinely care about how the work they do reflects on the company. That attitude spreads throughout the business.”

“We’re also not afraid to reinvest. Whether it’s new plant, systems, training or infrastructure, we’re always looking at how we can improve. We never want to stand still.”

Jake added: “I’d say the relationships are a big part of it too. We build long term partnerships because clients know what they’re getting from us. There’s honesty, accountability and consistency.”

“Coming through the business myself, I also know MAC gives people opportunities if they’re prepared to work hard and buy into the culture. That creates loyalty and stability across the workforce.”

HI: Why do you think MAC has stood the test of time?

JW: “Because the business has never forgotten what made it successful in the first place. Standards, hard work and relationships still matter here. The industry changes constantly, and you have to evolve with it, but the core principles stay the same.”

“I think the company has always adapted without losing its identity. MAC has modernised massively over the years through technology, systems and investment, but it’s also remained grounded, and I think both clients and staff can see that.”

HI: How do you keep that ‘family feel’ in a growing business?

JW: “It comes down to communication and culture I think. As businesses grow, people can start feeling disconnected if you’re not careful. You have to create an environment where people know they matter. That’s whether someone has been here twenty years or twenty days.”

“I think being approachable is important too. The leadership team stays close to the operation and close to the people. That helps maintain trust.”

The Next Chapter

As MAC Surfacing continues to invest and grow, the leadership of Jake and Adrian reflects the direction of the business itself — ambitious and deeply rooted in strong values.

Both understand that growth only matters if the culture behind it remains intact.

On the subject of growth, we asked both men: What’s next for MAC Surfacing?

JW: “There’s a lot happening over the next twelve to twenty-four months. We’ve got a significant planned investment in our depot expansion, and we’re continuing to grow our operations and resources to match the demand we’re seeing. We’re at around 120 people now and the focus is very much on making sure our customer service scales with us — not just our headcount.”

AS: “We’re also doing something genuinely exciting on the technology side. We’re overhauling our internal portal and planning system, and over the next twelve months we’ll be rolling out some industry-leading updates — interactive apps that change how we and our clients manage and track work. It’s an area we’re really proud of and I think it’ll set a new standard for businesses like ours.”

JW: “Watch this space. There’s plenty more to come and we’ll be sharing it as it happens.”

“Additionally, it’s also a case of more of the same. The company has built a fantastic reputation and has impressive longevity, so in terms of what’s next — there’s also very much a case for making sure that short, medium and long-term, our standards across the business remain high, our values lead the way that we operate, and that we continue to deliver the things that we do so well.”

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