Read our update from Brett Chatfield, Chief Investment Officer.
An interview with Higgins Coatings, VIC
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
It started with Gerry Higgins and his one paint van, and we’ve since grown into Australia’s largest private commercial painting business with 23 branches across Australia.
As we’ve grown, we’ve kept the same family values Gerry Higgins lived by and we remember each day that the most important people are our painters, who are provide outstanding customer service – they are the reason we're here – by making our customers happy.
How has your business evolved in the last 40 years?
The business has evolved to a relationship-based business - we get a lot of repeat business because of these relationships. It's evolved in a way which has maintained its core principles by providing operational excellence and outstanding customer experiences.
In addition, as part of our broader strategy, we have established smaller regional branches, because you're able to make a real connection within each community. Our painters and branches know the people they're working with, and it reinforces the notion of family.
How has the building and construction industry has evolved in last 40 years?
Safety has become a real differentiator for us and is a real focus for our Board and Management team. Back in the day someone would get up on a ladder and you didn't think twice as to whether it was safe or not, but now safety has become so crucial. The risk perception of what is safe has changed through training and education. We've been able to help our employees understand safety and they know they’ll be supported by the business in doing things the safe way rather than the quickest way.
The industry has also evolved in the awareness of mental health. As you can imagine, it's difficult in a male-dominated industry to get people to open up, but we continuously try to find ways for our employees to find the space to talk, and we've got good results so far in having people open up. It’s an ongoing challenge but one Higgins will do whatever it can to provide the most supporting environment.
Have you seen any improvement to your employees’ engagement and financial wellbeing over the last 40 years?
I've got to give credit to Michael Schultz at Cbus here and the fact there’s a dedicated team who educate staff, not just to sign members up, but to help them understand how to set up their super and make their contributions go further – so they can have a comfortable retirement.
If you look at the profile of the workforce when super started, some people thought it was a negative to lose their take-home pay but now there’s a very different way of thinking about it. I've seen a real improvement in people's understanding of how super can benefit them at retirement – thanks Michael and Cbus.
Can you recall the significance of when industry super began and the value it provided to employees?
Oh yes, absolutely.
I can distinctly remember all the arguments, but in hindsight I don't think anyone did a good job of explaining to employees or the community what the forgoing of a wage increase (which became the first 3% super contribution) was going to do and how super would provide their income in retirement.
It is important for your business to be with the industry super fund for building, construction, and allied industries?
I think so, yes. It doesn't make a lot of sense someone being in our industry and being a member with a standard retail fund. Cbus understands the industry and what employees need from their super.
They are fantastic the way they communicate with members and provide simple messaging around how little adjustments to the way they think about super now can make a big difference to the amount of money they will have in retirement.
This interview was conducted with Higgins Coatings in May 2024.
An interview with Saccardo Constructions, SA
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
We’re a concrete placing and finishing company dealing mainly with the Tier 1 and 2 builders here in Adelaide. We started as a small family business doing house foundation and pavements and then moved into the project homes field doing whole subdivisions.
From there, we started doing small commercial projects which has progressed over the years to now, being involved in major commercial and institutional projects including, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide Oval, Multi-story towers, Health and Defence projects.
How has the building and construction industry has evolved in last 40 years?
Machinery and technology have driven many changes enabling us to take on larger projects. The pace of building has also increased putting a lot of pressure on firms to complete projects in very short time frames. New products and materials are also changing how things are done.
Going forward I’d like to see an apprenticeship system in place for concrete placement where school leavers are encouraged to seek a career in our industry rather than just plumbing or electrical. We also need to do more as an industry to encourage more women into the field.
Can you recall the significance of when industry super began and the value it provided to employees?
Industry super has been a great initiative. It’s provided a safety net for all employees without them having to forgo their take home pay. Cbus also invests in property developments which provides work for the construction industry.
This interview was conducted with Saccardo Constructions in May 2024.
An interview with Sanwell Plumbing and Civil, WA
Can you tell us a bit about your business and how it’s evolved in the last 40 years?
We’re a privately owned company in the commercial construction industry and offer commercial and industrial hydraulic services throughout Western Australia. We started off small. Fred McMurray, our Director, was door knocking in the early days to try and secure work in the Tier One sector with the likes of Multiplex, Civil and Civic, Leighton Contractors, John Holland etc. Now we manage large scale projects from concept to completion. Our 40th Anniversary this year coincides with that of Cbus.
How has the building and construction industry has evolved in last 40 years?
A lot of the tasks back in the early days were manual and on today’s standard, quite rudimentary. Today we use laser technology, CAD design, computerised tools, sophisticated excavation and installation methods. This was also the case in the office, we’ve moved from the old days of a wad of cash for wages which involved many site visits every week.
The industry has changed from highly manual to the use of power tools, better equipment and technology within buildings and plumbing. The quality of pipes and materials has also improved. And more recently, the requirements for green initiatives fitted into current commercial buildings. The level of quality compliance and safety awareness has also really improved and are embedded across every area of our business.
Enterprise bargaining agreements have been fantastic too, I think it makes it easy for employees to understand what they're entitled to. And certainly, super has been made a lot easier by the likes of Cbus.
Are there other changes you’d like to see in the industry?
I think the need for people to understand their superannuation is important. It’s usually the biggest investment they have outside of their mortgage. Everyone needs to be aware of super and spend more time on understanding their entitlements.
Have you seen any improvement to your employees’ engagement and financial wellbeing over the last 40 years?
I’ve noticed that in the five-year period before retirement, people suddenly pay a lot of attention to Super. Cbus has been very good at trying to educate employees, but it comes down to the motivation of the of the individual.
Can you recall the significance of when industry super began and the value it provided to employees?
Our director remembers when Super began and the need to change the way we managed our compliance and administration. He certainly saw it as a positive step at the time for employees to have security in retirement.
It is important for your business to be with the industry Super fund for building, construction, and allied industries?
100 percent. If you're working within the industry, you know it better and you know the needs of our people which is critical. I know Cbus also invests in the industry, which is a big positive. On top of that, Cbus has been there at every level, from employee education to supporting employers to understand our responsibilities.
We're big advocates of Cbus. Every time we go to an event, we make a point of catching up with James Moore and Igor Zecic from the Cbus WA office because their value is huge.
This interview was conducted with Sanwell Plumbing and Civil Pty Ltd in May 2024.
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