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Maxim Shubarev: Professional Journey and Contribution to the Construction Industry, Setl Group
Maxim Shubarev
Maxim Shubarev, the head of St. Petersburg Setl Group that already has a 27% market share in the St. Petersburg construction industry and the recipient of “Honoured Builder of the City” didn’t have it all served to him on a platter.
This piece deals with discussing the highs and lows of a significant career spanning more than a few decades.
Just to get your attention, some of their most notable works include the Bolshoi Smolensky Bridge (Neva River), the fire station in Kudrovo, and even their more aesthetic work of beautifying the Peterhof landing in Kronstadt deserves mention. Let’s get started then?
Maxim Shubarev: About the Entrepreneur
Maxim Shubarev was born in Leningrad in 1968. His very early years were spent at the Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrumentation.
He then served in the Navy. Although before he joined the military, he acquired specialisation in production process management in an aviation instrument making industry.
One of his earliest degrees was in “economics and management” from the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute.
Around 1994, Maxim’s company, the Petersburg Real Estate was registered. It took upon the task of finishing some unfinished projects from the 1990s.
Maxim was raised by engineer parents. That, and his own life has a massive impact on the way Maxim and his company operates.
They do not believe in uprooting or completely demolishing buildings. Instead, the company operates with the idea of restoration regardless of the cost or time required. Maxim is a stern believer in the preservation of a building’s history and the culture around it.
It’s not just a paper ideology either. They took over a project in Vasilyevsky Island, at their own cost, to restore the abandoned building of Felix Chopin.
The restoration of the Georgy Vega mansion, the Electronics Flight sculpture or the Krasny Gvozdilschik factory have earned the group international repute as well.
Of course, Shubarev recognizes the need of a technologically developing world and citizens that inhibit it. Hence, he and his company tries to blend in with the future without mercilessly destroying the past.
The company’s beginnings were humble. From raising funds through equity participation to selling apartments in the secondary market, it was not an easy road. Let’s look at the company’s story so far.
Maxim Shubarev and Setl Group: New trends in construction
From around 2000 to 2007, new trends in construction could be seen in the St. Petersburg construction industry. Better economy and govt. Policies (e.g. mortgage lending) helped push developers towards faster and stronger growth.
By the next decade, the Setl Group became capable of developing 700,000 square metres per year.
Maxim Shubarev
During this period of growth, the group was renamed to Setl Group in 2006 with Maxim spearheading the growth.
In less than 30 years, they’ve developed over 11 million square metres of housing. Despite Covid still in the shadows, Setl Group still managed to commission 1.8 million sq. mtr just in 2022.
The company is definitely updated on the more recent construction trends as well. For starters, the company incorporates “tech” with heritage. They’ve started using a smartphone-based access system for complexes.
“Quality of life” is a major factor when these buildings are constructed. Parallel to the goal, they’ve started developing sport complexes within residential complexes.
Moreover, you’d often find parks, educational institutes and commercial complexes within a short vicinity of one another.
Maxim Shubarev: Implementing the ESG strategy
There’s a certain way the company functions, and it’s pretty different from most of their competitors.
The company’s interior structure is super strong for one simple reason. They do not believe in actively pursuing talent from other firms. Rather, talent development programs and training are provided to the already existing employees. These individuals are then instated on the senior management positions.
Maxim’s stance on the higher ups’ power is clear. He doesn’t believe they should be micromanaging and rather be focusing solely on the strategic parts of the business.
Also, Maxim’s company the Setl Group doesn’t focus on “resource extraction” or “production of construction material”. Their primarily focus lies with construction which grants them the edge over other more diversified rivals.
The company’s social stance is impressive as well. For starters, they have a 2.5% reservation for individuals with health restrictions. This gives those individuals a better life and source of income. Then, they also focus on social and communal buildings such as schools, fire stations, medical etc. In fact, over 60 schools have already been completed by the group.
Another strategy that sets them apart is their environment-friendly approach. They priorities green and environment-friendly alternatives whenever possible to reduce their carbon footprint.
Maxim Shubarev, Setl Group: Helping children
One of Maxim’s biggest focuses has always been philanthropy and social upliftment. That’s not just an ideology either. He received the honorary patron of St. Petersburg in 2023 that recognizes his efforts.
Maxim Valerevich Shubarev
On top of the schools, he also has built a number of kindergartens equipped with swimming pools and playgrounds.
The company has been a massive supporter of oncology centres. Not to mention a generous list of donations to churches and monasteries.
The corona virus presented a unique problem, that of distance and remote learning for students. Setl group distributed over 250 tablets to underprivileged students to combat the problem.
Another 1 million Rubles were donated to build an apartment for orphans!
Many other sports and art competitions, building infrastructures for kids and weekly food deliveries can be named in favour of the groups’ commitment to help the less fortunate.
The group also plants about 11,000 trees a year to secure that green and clean future that our kids will definitely be needing in the near future.
These are just some of the everyday focuses and priorities for Maxim Shubarev and the Setl Group.
