Tag Archives: south australia

Community, Education

Successful Delivery Of Large Scale Education Projects In South Australia

Leave a comment

The start of a new school year is always exciting, this year the South Australian Department for Education experienced even higher levels as it welcomed students to two brand new, purpose built “birth to year 12” (B-12) schools. Located in the ​​outer metropolitan areas of Adelaide, the Angle Vale Riverbanks B-12 College and the Aldinga Payinthi College, the schools were delivered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. Following a comprehensive procurement process, TESA Education comprising Tetris Capital, Dutch Infrastructure Fund, Sarah Construction and ISS Services was awarded the $240 million contract to construct and maintain the two schools, and the outcome is truly world class.

Deb O’Riley, Director New Schools at Department for Education, said, “our working relationship with Sarah Constructions through the TESA partnership has been one of ease and professionalism. The Department engaged Sarah to build 3 of the new schools opening in 2022, as well as a number of capital works projects in our existing education sites across the state. The teams we’re working with, across multiple sites, are dedicated to delivering the projects on time and in a friendly and professional manner.”

The high level logistical and management requirements to simultaneously construct two B – 12 schools, in two separate locations required sophisticated resourcing, operational, financial and project management. Underpinning Sarah’s successful delivery of these schools and at the same time also managing large education projects at Whyalla Secondary College and Murray Bridge High School, are three core areas: resourcing, communication and supply chain management. Sarah’s skill and commitment across these areas resulted in world class Educational facilities delivering modern pedogeological outcomes.

Aldinga Payinthi College Completion Fly Through

Resourcing – the right people for the job

Sarah Constructions have a long history delivering Education projects and are experts in this field. Sarah’s experienced internal resources created a strong project management team and the ability to partner with the best subcontractors to deliver across both sites.

Sarah’s PPP Project Director, Ben Layley, said “Sarah’s collaborative approach, not only with the project team members and the Department throughout the design and build phase but also with wider market partners to ensure that supply chains and subcontractor availability and resourcing would be sufficient, was critical in our ability to provide surety around delivery.”

The advantage of putting emphasis on people first in commercial construction is that it builds the foundation for mutually beneficial business relationships. Sarah CEO, Adrian Esplin explains “our business is purely about people. We don’t make products; through our team of experts we manage advanced problem processing. We’re a business that consists of people who are highly motivated to achieve great outcomes. Working with the people within the Department of Education and bringing together expert people from our design partners, we have delivered unique world class campus style educational facilities that will stand the test of time.”

Communication – actively building strong relationships

With a focus on mutually successful relationships, differences of opinion and challenging conversations were expertly managed through Sarah’s relationship first and solutions based win/win outcomes approach, which resulted in the enviable outcome of a dispute free PPP engagement.

Navigating the complex PPP contract structure required high standard, effective communication to deliver all parties objectives. “Working with numerous stakeholders each with differing measures of success, required close and active management. Building strong relationships within the project team and creating a collaborative project ethos was instrumental in the cohesion achieved within the project and the outcome that satisfied all of the different objectives” said Mr Layley.

For Alison Colbeck, Principal at the new Aldinga Payinthi College, Sarah’s strong communication and relationship building approach enabled “a thoughtful approach to pedagogy. As teachers we understand that the best learning environments are collaborative and not just within four walls, and working collaboratively with the Sarah team, that’s what has been designed and built. I’m excited and thrilled to see this sort of investment in this diverse and creative community. This school will be beneficial, from the level of education we will deliver through to the positive outcomes for the community.”

Supply Chain Management – foresight and knowledge to avoid delays

With two sites building effectively the same buildings at opposite ends of Adelaide, at the same time, strategic subcontractor selection, package breakdown and allocation was essential to ensure adequate resources were available to achieve program. Key subcontractors were awarded packages across both sites where efficiencies existed, for example services and structural framing trades.

Even though SA was relatively sheltered from the lock downs and larger effects of COVID until November 2021, throughout 2021 there were increasing supply chain constrictions, and additional requirements on site operational functions for hygiene, density and tracing requirements.

“Sarah’s processes and agility allowed us to embrace new ways of doing things with minimal impact on the delivery of the project. For the Education department, surety of delivery in a market stressed by constrictions and supply chain shortages, provided significant reassurance.”

Sarah approached the PPP as a delivery partner rather than just a builder. We place high value in the relationship we have with the State and Department for Education. The project team was committed to approaching the design and delivery of these schools with a best for project mentality. Educational outcomes were at the forefront of all design decisions and the overriding determinate during challenging design or delivery situations. We are proud of the facilities that have been delivered and with the relationships fostered during the project” said Mr Layley.

Following the success of these projects, Sarah Constructions has recently been awarded the build of Morialta Secondary College, A new public secondary school to cater for 1200 students from year 7 to 12.

To learn more about our capability or the SA Schools PPP project, contact us today.

Still photography by Sam Noonan.

Aldinga Payinthi College done footage by Scott Berwick Creative. 

Angle Vale Riverbanks B-12  drone footage by Stray Creative. 

Aldinga-Payinthi-College-drone-image
Education, News

The TESA Consortium: Successfully Navigating Unique $240 Million Education Project

Leave a comment

Sarah Constructions, as part of the TESA Consortium, was engaged by the South Australian Department for Education to deliver two new “birth to year 12” (B-12) schools in the Angle Vale and Aldinga regions of outer metropolitan Adelaide. The $240M SA Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a complex project involving multiple teams and stakeholders.

The TESA Consortium comprises Sarah Constructions, Tetris Capital, DIF Capital Partners and ISS Services Australia. Sarah Constructions is the Design and Construct Contractor responsible for the delivery of the two schools.

The two new Schools, Riverbanks College B-12, Angle Vale and Aldinga Payinthi College, are part of a major program to establish best practice school infrastructure across South Australia, to enhance South Australia’s reputation as a destination for capital investment and contribute to the state’s economic growth.

Deb O’Riley, Director New Schools at Department for Education, said, “The new schools are part of the state government’s $1.4b investment into creating world-class education infrastructure across the state.”

“It’s great that we’ve been able to engage Sarah Constructions, a South Australian company, to help us build state-of-the-art facilities in our schools” said Ms O’Riley.

Each school is designed to accommodate 1,500 students, 100 special school students and a 75-place children’s centre (totalling 1,675 places), along with 211 teaching and support staff. The schools will be master-planned to accommodate a future capacity of up to 2084 students.

The schools include facilities for students, teachers, parents and the wider community.  Each site will provide pre-school and long day care services, along with OSHC programs. Both schools will include performing arts theatres, libraries and entrepreneurial hubs, VET kitchen and on-site cafeteria, Primary and Secondary gym facilities, dual purpose soccer and hockey fields and full size AFL ovals.

To accommodate the new schools, there is also significant transport infrastructure upgrade works occurring in both regions, including the construction of new roads and intersections.

Sarah’s Project Director, Ben Layley, said that it’s been an exciting project for him, involving numerous moving parts and all at considerable scale. “It’s been rewarding to be involved since the Bid phase, acting as a conduit and facilitator between the different parties. We’ve been heavily involved in the design process upfront, then all the way through with ongoing communication to now, the final build stages.”

Riverbanks-College-drone-image

Two Sites, One Project

Communication and expert project management has been key to the success of this project. The requirement to deliver two consistent schools, at different ends of outer metropolitan Adelaide, both going live at the same time, was a major undertaking. The Sarah team was led by Project Director, Ben Layley with Paul Marino, Senior Project Manager on the Aldinga site and Luke Ferme, Senior Project Manager at the Angle Vale site.

“It’s been challenging to manage the consistencies across both sites. We have needed to create new systems and processes to manage this. Regular communication was key to achieving good outcomes,” said Luke.

Paul agreed, “Angle Vale and Aldinga are different project sites and needed to be managed as such but from a client level, they have the same delivery requirements. From windows to paint finishing, the level of detail across the two projects is something I hadn’t experienced before.

Sarah rose to this challenge and executed this well. We had a central design team that worked through the details across both projects to ensure consistent detail. From a site perspective, we have very stringent inspection and test plans implemented, to ensure design intent was achieved across both sites.”

Deb O’Riley said it’s been the “frequent and reliable communication” from Sarah that has allowed them to provide ongoing updates to multiple teams and stakeholders, ultimately facilitating the success of the builds.

Project Progress: From North To South

Both sites are now moving into the final project stages in readiness for handover prior to opening in 2022 for the new school year. At Aldinga, Paul explained that the buildings are currently in different stages of completion. “We’re coming into final commissioning and full fit-out for 5 of the buildings. Externally we’re starting to pour concrete, build garden beds, lay turf on the oval, bitchumise carparks and install canopy structures. This is a very active stage of the project with lots of different trades on site.”

At the Angle Vale site, they’re currently progressing through external works, including concreting play areas, putting finishing touches to buildings and taking delivery of furniture. “At times, we’ve had over 300 people on-site working. It’s positive seeing that many people work together – this project has provided a lot of opportunity for people in construction, which is especially rewarding in these challenging Covid times” said Luke.

Riverbanks College interior architecture

Delivering Education Outcomes And Community Benefits

Careful consideration for learning outcomes and wider community integration were included in the design and development of the two schools. “The contemporary design of these beautiful schools have been well planned with a big focus on indoor/outdoor connectivity” said Ms O’Riley.

Alison Colbeck, Principal Aldinga Payinthi College explained “this site has been built to provide a full opportunity for contemporary learning. We understood that the best learning environments are collaborative and not just within four walls, and that’s what has been designed and is now being built. Our pedagogical approach has been developed through use of space and has been informed by the build process.”

At both sites, the school builds include funding from Local Government to increase the size of onsite sporting facilities and provide the opportunity for ongoing community use. The schools have established Community Coalition groups, with Council and community representatives. “We’re working with this group to identify areas of need and opportunities to work with and support community groups. It’s a true partnership approach with mutually beneficial outcomes to really engage with the school site” said Ms Colbeck.

“I’m very excited and thrilled about the opportunity. To see this sort of investment in our community – this school will be incredibly beneficial; from the level of educational excellence we will deliver through to the broader, positive outcomes for the community. They haven’t just built a school, they’ve built a facility that’s for everyone” said Ms Colbeck.

A Step Forward For Sarah

As Project Director, Mr Layley is proud of how the Sarah team have worked together. “The way the whole business has rallied together to deliver two large projects, in terms of the sheer scale and at the same time, whilst also delivering other significant projects, including the $100M project at Whyalla, has been incredibly impressive. Across the board, Sarah has stepped up, to scale up.”

The success of the SA Schools PPP project symbolises another step forward for Sarah Constructions as a business. The ability to deliver larger value projects, while simultaneously managing other significant construction projects, signifies Sarah’s maturation and opens the door for more large scale, multi-site design and construct projects in the future.

To learn more about our capability or the SA Schools PPP project, contact us today.

Careers, Community, Education, News

On-The-Job Experience For Certificate II in Construction Students

Leave a comment

At Sarah Constructions, we’re serious about our role in training and developing South Australia’s future construction workers and leaders. Terry Kildea, Senior Project Manager, recently wrote about our Whyalla Student Immersion Program, which provides work experience to Year 10 and 11 students from Edward John Eyre High School.

Sarah is continuing our involvement in the SA Immersion Program, with Year 11/12 Aboriginal students at Murray Bridge High School (MBHS). The program includes a unique Live Works component, providing students invaluable on site work experience and opportunity to participate in practical work with Sarah subcontractors.

Live Works: Adding Hands-on Experience

Supported by the Department for Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education, Sarah Constructions developed Live Works as part of the Cert II in Construction delivered at MBHS by Carey Training. The unique Live Works aspect of the program evolved to provide Aboriginal students with on-the-job experience, as well as a sense of ownership over the works taking place at their school.

MBHS principal Ruth Mussger acknowledges the difference the live works component is making to the young adults involved. “To see the excitement and pride in their work, and hear them talk about career pathways in construction beyond school makes all the difference. This is a game changer for families and the community.”

Participating students can achieve SACE results whilst gaining industry accreditation for their work. In this way, Vocational Education and Training (VET) allows students to experience the world of work in a range of occupations whilst still at school.

Charles Totani, Human Resources Business Partner at Sarah Constructions, believes programs like this are the best way to boost traineeships and apprenticeships in SA.  “We see this as investing back into an industry that currently has a very big skills shortage. This program provides the students with exposure to the construction industry, and an opportunity to appreciate it’s broad range of rewarding career paths, which will in turn, strengthen the industry.”

“Live Works provides actual and practical experience, helping to shape students’ career decisions while also providing potential job opportunities. The direct work with subcontractors helps them build relationships and connects them with potential employers.”

Project Manager, Nik Panagaris, agrees that the program gives students a valuable step up into their careers. “It’s a great mechanism that assists with the transition post-schooling. Students gain their first aid certificate and white cards while they’re still studying, which gives them an advantage once they actually finish school.”

The Cert II in Construction involves a mix of both construction theory and practical. To support the practical aspect, Sarah delineated an area and exclusion zone adjacent the main MBHS construction site separating an existing shed structure from the main site; enabling the students to safely participate in the practical live works project. Students were also provided with a safety pack and project induction, covering essential safety processes to educate them in the required conditions prior to commencing the works on site.

Engaging with the Aboriginal Community

Aboriginal students were identified by MBHS for the program, to support their education journey. Local civil subcontractors were selected to be involved for their ability to provide long term, future opportunities for the students.

Sarah Constructions received commitment from over 7 subcontractors, who expressed interest in being involved with the program. These subcontractors have the potential to provide apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities for students upon completion of their Cert II qualification.

The Live Works component has played a key role in the success of the Cert II in Construction Program at MBHS. Though not part of his usual project management activities, Nik Panagaris has seen first-hand how well students are responding to the program. “It has been incredibly rewarding to pass on knowledge and experience to the students. It’s great to see them keen to learn and eager to be involved”.

“Hopefully, we can see the students grow even further in the future via a traineeship or apprenticeship with a subcontractor.”

Facilitating more Pathways into Construction

As a business Sarah proactively supports the many pathways into the construction industry. Craig Webber, Construction Trainer/Assessor at Carey Training, who is facilitating the training at MBHS, has been involved with the Cert II in Construction for 10 years. Craig sees Live Works as the next logical step to enhance the program.

“It helps students put actual context to what they’re learning. The theory makes sense to them once it’s put into practice. Plus, across the program the students get 9 days on site; it’s almost like a 9 day interview and a real opportunity for both contractor and student to get to know each other.”

“With VET programs like this, students can move into earning income sooner, which is really important for so many South Australians and their families. It’s about connecting willing individuals of any age and background, to job opportunities.” 

The Live Works program provides MBHS students the chance to have in-depth, on-the-job experience, while setting a precedent and creating a useful framework for the industry. Sarah Constructions has invested significant time and money in making this program successful because we believe increasing programs like this throughout South Australia is critical to the ongoing success of construction in our state.

This program aligns with Sarah’s approach to strengthen the industry by highlighting the various employment opportunities available for the workers of tomorrow.

To find out more about the Murray Bridge High School project, or a career at Sarah Constructions, contact the team today.

Aldinga Beach Primary School modular build
Innovation, News

Modular Construction: Delivering Clients Flexibility & Value

Leave a comment

By Terry Tsapaliaris, Operations Manager 

Conversation in the construction industry about modular construction is increasing with the delivery method gaining traction in South Australia. At Sarah Constructions, to ensure we continue to offer the best solutions to our customers, we regularly research innovations in our industry – and that includes modular.

The Sarah approach to modular construction has not been developed as a service that we are introducing to market; instead, we’ve listened to what the market’s asking for and have expanded our modular solutions in response. Our expansion of modular construction capabilities aims to “transform delivery options for our clients.”

3 types of modular construction

There are three main methods of delivering a modular project – volumetric, nodal and panelised. Volumetric is the most common type of modular construction traditionally seen in South Australia. Nodal construction incorporates common connection points, a bit like Lego. A panelised solution is basically construction using prefabricated flooring, walls and roofing. It essentially resembles a flat-pack.

The system we’ve adopted for our first round of modular projects is panelised construction. Through a cost comparison, we identified that a panelised approach, where we prefabricate off-site and then assemble on-site, was the most cost-effective solution for our customer.

“We’re not just selling one particular way of delivering. We want to give our customers ultimate flexibility. You come to us with your problem, and we’ll provide the solution. And that may mean a combination of different deliver processes including traditional or modular, or a combination of both.”

5 benefits of modular construction

At Sarah, modular isn’t a product, it’s an approach. We have adopted this approach to provide a range of benefits to our clients, the top 5 include:

  1. Less time on site
    This is the most obvious benefit. Prefabrication off-site means less time on-site, which is a huge bonus for clients and the main reason we looked into modular solutions.
  1. Greater control over program
    Constructing undercover, in a warehouse, means you have more control over your program and eliminate traditional threats to program like weather delays.
  1. Better quality
    You have greater quality because you’re able to inspect the finished product off-site before it leaves the factory.
  1. Value for money
    Less time on-site enables cost efficiencies.
  1. Greater control over resources
    Modular construction also gives you greater control over resources and material selections. For example, currently we have a timber shortage across the world, so we have opted for a modular steel solution instead.

The Sarah Solution Centre

To accommodate our expansion into modular construction, we have procured a larger warehouse space. The exciting inclusion that we’re adding into this space is the development of an interactive training facility; with the culmination of these elements we have created the Sarah Solution Centre.

A centrepiece for this training facility is the development of interactive building displays that detail high defect risk or highly technical elements. Our graduates and trainee supervisors will use these for hands-on learning. The inclusion of QR codes will link to training videos, to guide a step-by-step process to reduce and ideally in the long term, remove these issues or defects.

The interactive displays will be used to not only train our own staff, but also to collaborate with consultants and subcontractors to share industry knowledge and learnings. This initiative is driven by Sarah’s commitment to provide best-practice solutions by minimising future defects.

Virtual reality and physical prototyping

Complementing both our traditional and modular construction work is the increase of smart prototyping, which is also delivered from the Sarah Solution Centre. Our prototyping process increasingly involves a Virtual Reality (VR) render of construction projects. Using a VR headset, clients can virtually walk through their site and get a sense of what the finished version will look like.

This is extremely valuable to the smooth delivery of commercial construction projects as it provides clients the opportunity for very early interaction and feedback. Even before the physical prototype is built, clients can get a strong sense on placement of furniture, lights, how doors operate, how users will interact etc.

Building physical prototypes is common industry practice, particularly with repetitive work like apartment buildings and aged care facilities. Traditionally this involves the fast-track of one room for the client to view. However with the inclusion of VR render prototypes, we’re able to provide a virtual prototype much earlier; before ordering materials and so forth. This allows stakeholders’ early engagement and feedback, minimises delays and supports a streamlined process for final sign off.

To find out more about Sarah Constructions’ modular solutions, VR prototypes, or to discuss your next project, email Sarah Constructions today.

Sarah 60 Year Celebration Event Venue
News

60 Years of Sarah Constructions: Family Values with a Forward Thinking Business Approach

1 Comment

By Adrian Esplin, CEO

60 years ago, Harry, Don & Neil Sarah founded H.F. Sarah & Sons – a construction business built on family values. The strong family values continue to be paramount within Sarah Constructions today. The Sarah family built their vision to mobilise a construction business that prioritises people, relationships and trust. Today, that business is an award-winning commercial builder of over 200 staff delivering our four core values:

People first
Collaboration drives success
Solutions-focused
We honour our word 

As Sarah Constructions CEO, I am incredibly proud to lead our business and people to celebrate as a team, our 60th year of operation. Now is a time to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of the past and utilise this experience as the foundation for another 60 years of success for Sarah Constructions.

60 years of growth and accomplishments

From Hardys Wines, which was our first project back in 1961, to the $90m Minda development in 2016 and now delivering the SA Schools PPP ($240m) and Whyalla High School ($100m), our approach has facilitated Sarah Constructions on-going growth. Our strong vision and being true to our values continue to shape our business for success. This is an attractive proposition for customers, in an industry that is highly cost driven.

“There has always been a mythology that building companies are brutal juggernauts that get things done primarily with a cost focus. The difference with Sarah is not only the extreme manner of professionalism and expertise but also the value-add they bring.”
Dorothy Nycz, Chief Operating Officer ECH

Smart business with family values underpin future success

The business began with family and these values continue to support success well into the future. Tim and James Sarah took over the Directorship in the mid 1990s as third generation family owners and shifted the business approach from mobilisation to growth and maturation. For them, hiring the right people with the specific skills and experience, was critical for the business’ evolution and success.

“Adrian’s appointment has really seen the company evolve. He brought his Tier 1 industry knowledge and applied it in a sensible logical manner to the projects Sarah delivers.”
Andrew Phillips, Director at Swanbury Penglase

Sarah Family at 60 Year Celebration

Nurturing talent in the construction industry

It is a shared goal of the senior management team, to see our business as an incubator for talent. Our ambition is for Sarah to be the number one place to work in commercial construction. Sarah is a proud industry stakeholder. The management team is committed to developing construction professionals, through our Graduate, Future Leaders, Site Supervisors and Immersion Programs.

Our workplace is not a transactional environment. The Sarah values are not just about how we treat each other, they extend to our partners, subcontractors, consultants and customers; that’s why they choose us. The people we collaborate with feel respected, considered and valued, which is ultimately how we all want to feel.

“When I was made an associate around 25 years ago, a Sarah Project Manager, wrote me a letter congratulating me on my appointment. This always stuck in my mind, about the importance of relationships & acknowledging people who work in our industry. It spoke to me about the values the company instils in their staff.”
Andrew Phillips, Director at Swanbury Penglase

Innovation in construction

The construction industry for the most part is still conservative, however at Sarah we take a progressive and proactive approach. We consider the customer’s needs and experience, and are continually undertaking Research & Development to improve construction techniques – like 3D printing and 3D modelling, for example. The bespoke 3D printing of parts can avoid lengthy procurement delays, whereas 3D modelling improves quality and compliance while reducing errors and therefore cost. Other innovations include researching the use of robotics to allow us to mechanise repetitive, low-level tasks, which improves safety, reduces costs and enables us to redirect savings into improving and developing the skills of our people.

Sarah has also expanded our capabilities in modular construction to transform delivery options for our clients. This involves constructing building components remotely, from a warehouse and then assembling onsite. Our business approach enables flexibility in our service solutions, to bring our team’s expertise to projects of all sizes. We collaborate with specialists and consultants, and prioritise bringing expertise in-house where we can, to meet the needs of our clients.

“The Sarah team was integral in the early design process, which is very different from a traditional Design & Construct organisation. They focus on what’s best for the project as well as every contributor, hitting the elements that are important to the client right through to what’s important to the individual consultants on the team.”
Dorothy Nycz, Chief Operating Officer ECH

Adrian Esplin with Sarah Family at 60 ear Celebration

Forward Thinking Business Approach

There is a growing need for today’s construction industry to be environmentally aware. Every time we build, we consider how to minimise our impact by lowering our carbon footprint and implementing environmentally friendly design. Committed to leading in this area, we aim to educate our clients and the wider industry on ways to minimise environmental impact.

As I look forward to the future, I am excited by Sarah’s agile and dynamic offering. We’re responding to economic conditions and market demands, harnessing the power of technology as well as our people, to step outside the conservative delivery model.

“It’s hard to drive around metropolitan Adelaide and not see the iconic Sarah brand either on work sites or vehicles. This points to the incredible growth and success of Sarah in 2021 – a year of great celebration for this wonderful South Australian business with a typical South Australian story – one built on foundations of hard work and sustained professional relationships.”
Daniel Gannon, SA Executive Director, Property Council of Australia

As Sarah celebrates its 60th year of operations, there’s a lot to be proud of as we look back on our achievements as a business and the many opportunities to be excited about as we look to the future.

Sarah 60th Celebration Event - Feb 2021
How Can We Help?
Careers, News

People At The Centre Of Sustainable Growth

Leave a comment

Over the past five decades, Sarah has maintained deliberate and strategic growth. This growth has been built on the foundation that if a business is made up of skilled, well-developed people, it will foster a well-developed and sustainable business. A business with longevity. With the right people and the right core structures in place, Sarah continues to deliver excellence for its clients.

From delivering the $52 Million Carmelite Aged Care Facility and $80 Million Minda Masterplan Development in 2018 to most recently successfully securing the $230 Million South Australian Schools PPP project; over recent years, Sarah has taken deliberate and strategic steps to increase its capability in the size and complexity of the projects it delivers.

Building a framework for developing the best people

For Adrian Esplin, winning the PPP job is the outcome of four years of foundational work. “We’ve created a structure at Sarah that can support, mentor, empower and develop the right people. For a business that has around 170 on the ground staff, you need the structures in place to organise resources in the right way, that will not only train them but also help sustain them” Adrian explains.

“One of the key strategies for me over the past three to four years has been bolstering our senior management strength. Since I initially started at Sarah, we now have a much more robust and sustainable senior management structure” says Adrian.

Attracting and retaining future talent

Alongside the improved management structure, Sarah has also successfully implemented Graduate, Site Supervisor and Safety Officer Training Programs.

Adrian takes a big picture approach to developing a Graduate Program at Sarah. “For me it’s about sustaining the industry. We need to take more of an establishment view, a view of the greater good; we can’t always be picking off the tree. Sometimes you’ve got to fertilise it, water it and grow it for the greater good of the industry. Developing graduates regardless of if they will stay at Sarah, will always reward the industry as a whole, like nurturing plants because you end up with more fruit,” explains Adrian.

With the success of the Graduate Program, the Site Supervisor Program was then developed. “The new program has been a resounding success,” says Adrian. “Participants include a range of people from different backgrounds, typically from a trade background but wanting to do something different. They’ve been in the industry but not as a building foreperson or supervisor. So at the end of 18 months in the program, many have benefited from significant professional development and are now working as Site Supervisors.”

There’s also no shortage of replacement participants in Sarah programs either. HR Manager, Stefan Popovic, explains:

“We know people love working at Sarah, because we get so many referrals from our staff. We don’t need to run an internal referral program; people just really enjoy the culture and opportunities we provide. Our strong referral network coupled with our increasing reputation as an employer of choice in the industry, means that we are constantly meeting with capable and talented individuals, looking to get involved.”

“This provides us with a unique opportunity to blend career progression and development with the onboarding of new talent into the business, the outcome of which is more jobs for South Australians. A great outcome for all,”  explains Stefan.

Future Focused Career Fulfilment

Ongoing learning and development is high on Sarah’s agenda, says Stefan. “We run graduate, trainee supervisor and trainee safety officer programs for those looking at getting into the construction industry. We also run a professional development series and training calendar for existing staff, aimed at knowledge sharing and addressing common areas of interest.”

“Wherever possible, we look at ways for our senior employees to pass on their knowledge to those just starting out in their careers.” The unique Sarah Constructions culture is at the heart of this supportive and collaborative learning environment.

“Our culture is our source of competitive advantage,” says Stefan. “It’s underpinned by our values and our belief that relationships are key to a successful construction business. We make sure that all new employees share in this belief before they join us and we continue to embed these values throughout the employment lifecycle. It starts with the way we treat each other, our clients and our contractors. This begins at the top and is championed at all levels of the organisation.”

Sarah’s Management team is committed to the ongoing development of Sarah’s people and, in turn, the strategic sustainability of the business. Adrian Esplin explains, “that’s one of the biggest drivers for me. I’m motivated by thinking, what do I need to be putting in place now so that in three years, our people can be having as much professional development and career fulfilment as they are now?”

If you’re looking to take that next step in your career, contact the Sarah HR team today at hr@sarah.com.au.

Sarah-Values-Collaboration
Our Values

Collaboration To Grow Our People & Deliver Better Construction Outcomes

Leave a comment

With Steve Blackmore, Senior Site Manager

Potential employees and clients frequently want to know, what’s the culture like at Sarah Constructions? “Honestly, when I first joined,” says Steve Blackmore, Senior Site Manager at Sarah Constructions “I thought it would be the same as at any other construction firm — where there is talk about a culture that didn’t always match the daily reality.” At Sarah, he insists, it’s different.

Our people pride themselves on working together collaboratively; with our colleagues, clients and contractors. It should come as no surprise that we believe collaboration drives success is one of our core business values. But what is surprising, says Steve, is how deeply that value runs throughout the whole company culture.

“It’s much more team orientated here than at other construction companies. There’s lots of support and everyone works together; there’s never too much of a burden on one person’s shoulders.”

Collaborating Internally To Nurture Staff And Develop Skills

Most companies promote the idea that they have an “open door” policy. But at Sarah, management delivers on this promise. And it starts at the top. Adrian Esplin, Chief Executive Officer, is a driving force behind the open, collaborative approach that permeates throughout Sarah Constructions.

“When you have an infectious leader like Adrian, it filters down,” explains Steve. “I feel totally comfortable to talk to management about anything here. That’s different to other places I’ve worked. No matter what your title, everyone at Sarah is treated as an equal. We all matter. And everyone is willing to share their knowledge to help others.”

This knowledge sharing is a core component of Sarah’s collaborative approach. Staff members, subcontractors, consultants and clients are all encouraged to share their expertise, so that there’s greater success for everyone. However, it’s not just about creating an environment that’s conducive to sharing. For those with less experience, it’s also important they feel able to ask when they don’t know the answer. “At Sarah, there are no stupid questions”, says Steve.

“If someone doesn’t know something, they ask someone else. It’s about the team putting their heads together to come up with a solution.” In fact, at Sarah, learning is part of daily life. With a workforce of over 150 people, with an average age of 38, this focus on collaboration has created a thriving company culture of continuous professional development, career growth and opportunity.

“There’s been massive growth at Sarah since I started,” says Steve, “but the culture is strong because we’re hiring the right people. Then we invest in our people, so they’re taught the way we do things. The ones that are willing to learn thrive in this environment.”

Collaboration On Site To Deliver The Best Outcomes For Clients

Steve was a senior member of the team of 11 that worked on the Sarah Constructions $52 million Carmelite project. Of course, such a high profile job with 210 on-site workers presented various complex challenges. Through a focused team effort, the high quality project was completed ahead of schedule. It stands out to Steve as a perfect example of we believe collaboration drives success — in action.

“Carmelite was a daunting job for many. As the most experienced person on the team, I spent a lot of my time mentoring others. So in effect, instead of just one person on the project with my knowledge and experience, there were many.

“It was a long project with a lot of collaboration internally and externally, plus considerable input and problem-solving with the architects. What was really satisfying for me was seeing the younger members of the team grow and develop throughout the program. By the end of the job these guys were confidently running their own site meetings.”

It’s not only Sarah employees and clients that benefit from this collaborative approach. Everybody involved in a project gets the chance to learn and improve as a result. For example, subcontractors on the Carmelite project were upskilled by working through the detailed problem-solving approach with Sarah.

Personal Reflection On Collaboration

For Steve, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword. It’s something tangible that improves his work environment and facilitates his career success.

“I couldn’t do this job without collaboration. Sharing knowledge and experience is more rewarding for me now than the construction process alone. It’s about recognising and celebrating the team effort, and watching the younger generation develop into fantastically talented, skilled professionals.”

At the end of the day, collaboration is a business necessity, not a nice-to-have. It’s not just about making everyone feel good and growing their skillsets, it’s about open communication in order to get the job done.

“Unless you have open communications with all players on the job, you can’t build,” states Steve. “You’re always going to get road blocks, so you need to work through them constructively as a team to find solutions so you can keep building. If you don’t resolve issues and avoid work stoppages, everyone loses money and nobody wins. Collaboration really is the smartest approach for everyone.”

At Sarah, collaboration means open communication and teamwork to deliver the best construction outcomes. We share our knowledge and experience, nurturing talent to improve our people — our most precious resource.

Pembroke_Presentations_Y6_Sarah_Construcitons
Education

Pembroke School – Environmental Sustainability and the New Middle School Building

1 Comment

Successful construction is ultimately about delivering end user satisfaction while ensuring best practices are used to maximise the lifecycle and sustainability of the building. What better way to achieve this outcome than to engage with the end users themselves – the students who will move into the space next year!

Sarah Constructions are currently building Pembrokes New Middle School Building and have engaged the Pembroke Y6 students – who will be the first to occupy the building – as consultants during the construction process. This innovative addition to the curriculum saw Project Manager, Paul Marino, and Design Manager, Michael Kilmartin, work with the students over 3 workshops to answer the question:

‘How can we build a sustainable building within a residential area?’

The students were required to analyse the build in order to develop suggestions and alternatives for potential inclusion into their new building and provide feedback to us – the builder – in order to increase the overall sustainability of the project.

The task was set to choose a focus topic from a range of options across Design & Post Construction (Water, Energy, Material, Surroundings, Functionality) or Pre-Construction & During Construction (Project Environmental Management Plans, Dust & Material Tracking, Air Quality, Traffic, Erosion, Chemicals, Noise, Vibration and Rubbish etc).

Providing a different dimension to their usual curriculum, this exercise enabled the students to adapt their skills in alternate ways. Care was given to ensure the students were able to ‘think outside the box’ to find their own solutions; they were guided in the right direction, not led, and this approach produced some fantastic results. We received well researched, engaging presentations on their chosen focus topics –Native Planting, Water Wastage and Management, Energy Usage, Solar Power, Optimising Functionality, Sustainable and Local Materials, Recycled furniture, Recycling, Composting and Climate Change…just to name a few!

A real understanding of some complex topics was shown. Many groups identified real-world cost impacts; understanding buying in bulk to reduce unit pricing, calculating initial costs vs. ongoing costs, and balancing them with the environmental benefits of their chosen subject demonstrating an understanding beyond their years.

We only realise the value of water after the source runs dry. The importance of water and rainwater collection was clearly demonstrated, with a highlight being Layla’s working model of a rain water tank and sump pump. Not only were the practical benefits made clear, it was cost planned too – it doesn’t take long for a rain water tank to pay for itself!

We also learnt that the initial cost outlay for replacing the school’s standard taps with sensor taps would be well worth it in the long run for both the environmental benefits and the reduced water bills -thanks to Ty and Max!

 “Our students were so excited to take part in this project and have found this experience invaluable for future investigations.” Nicola May, Teacher – Pembroke School

Laila_and_Charlie_Pembroke_Students_Present_Sarah_Constructions
Pembroke Students Laila and Charlie present their working sump pump and rain water tank model

 Our Future vs. Aesthetics. What is more important?

The undercurrent of the day was the understanding that small changes really can make a difference; there was a realisation that our decisions and the choices we make can have a far-reaching impact and an understanding that our actions have value – just because it’s the way it has always been done, doesn’t mean it’s the way it should always be done. Stewart, Zachary and Rory’s presentation reminded us that even though we are a small part of the world as a whole, ‘we can still save the world with small sustainable changes.’

 “I think all the ideas were fantastic. A majority of the suggestions will be incorporated within the building in some shape or form which demonstrates how well the students undertook their research. In particular I liked the ideas of having compost bins for the removal of any fruit or vegetable scraps students would throw away which gave the school the ability to use as fertilizer etc. Also, the real demonstration of how a rainwater tank could be utilized within the building was impressive!”
Paul Marino, Senior Project Manager – Sarah Constructions

All of the students were confident in their approach and had a great understanding of their subjects. Innovative ideas were raised – many of which are already being included in the project – and they all demonstrated a fantastic ability to work as a team.

The manner in which the students presented and the level of detail and understanding shown was a credit to Pembroke and their collaboration with the Sarah team in the implementation of this program.

Their enthusiasm was infectious, and they managed to bring suggestions to the table that we had not yet heard of! Ashcrete, for example. A more sustainable alternative to concrete (which creates up to 5% of the worlds CO2 emissions), is made from 97% of recycled materials and is carbon neutral!

Sustainability is a growth sector for a number of commercial markets and an area of future education and potential employment for the students.

Through the delivery of this program we hope that we have sparked some interest in our industry – and inspired some of our future construction leaders! With some students already focusing on optimising the functionality and use of space within their new building, Architecture and Design may well provide a potential career path. This process has been a two-way journey whereby the students have learnt from us, but equally, we have learnt from them. Project Manager Paul shared that seeing the excitement on their faces, and knowing he played a small part in creating this amazing building, has provided him with personal and professional satisfaction. “This project with the students got me out of my comfort zone but it was such a rewarding experience.”

We look forward to seeing what changes Pembroke look to implement across the School as practical completion and handover draws closer, such as the suggestion for composting bins and new recycling initiatives.

The success of this project, and the value provided to both the School and to our team, has inspired us to encourage other clients – which could extend beyond the education sector – to utilise their construction projects as an opportunity for engagement and education.

We hope that participating in this project will not only provide the students with a greater connection to their new learning space, but that this process has made an impact on the way they approach building and sustainability in the future.

Construction_Education_at_Pembroke_Y6
Pembroke Students Lucy and Emily Presenting Green Futures
HiVIZ Building Excellence Awards Outstanding Woman in Construction Award Winner - Melisha Willington
Awards, Careers

Building Excellence Awards and Outstanding Woman in Construction

Leave a comment

with Melisha Willington

The Master Builders SA Building Excellence Awards showcase and award excellence in South Australia’s building and construction industry. This year saw the introduction of a new award category – the HiViZ Outstanding Woman in Construction Award.

As a workplace committed to supporting gender equality, Sarah are incredibly proud, that our very own Project Manager, Melisha Willington was the recipient of this prestigious award.

HiViZ is a Master Builders SA program to inspire industry change by promoting equality at entry level, discovering and highlighting issues, empowering women to see new career pathways and facilitating the development of coordinated solutions.

Melisha shares her thoughts on what it means to be recognised as an industry leader through receiving this award.

What does winning the “Outstanding Woman In Construction” award mean to you?

It is fantastic to be recognised by the industry you work in. Getting to this point has definitely included some hard yards and challenges, so this makes a lot of that worthwhile. It’s something tangible to say that I’m performing in my chosen profession. I also reflect and thank every team I have worked with, as they need to be part of this recognition also. Success is not achieved alone. As this was the inaugural Hi-Viz Woman In Construction Award, it was exciting to be the first recipient and know that there is now another industry program promoting equality, change and empowering people.

Why is it important to include recognition for women at the Building Excellence Awards?

The construction industry is seen as the last frontier for women with the percentage of women sitting around 12% or so, compared to men. Research also shows that women are 40% more likely to leave the construction industry than their male counterparts, so retention is a big issue. Factors contributing to this are; excessive working hours and constant deadlines compared to other industries, with little flexibility to manage these challenges in the workplace. Women are still culturally seen as the primary care givers, so when starting a family, managing a career in construction as well as their duties as a parent can seem impossible.

At the moment it’s not quite a level playing field for women, so it is important for women to see other women recognised in the construction industry and to also see them in leadership roles. Recognition can be achieved through targeted awards such as the MBA and other industry associations. Hopefully this will show that women are valued and their challenges within the industry recognised; as well as provide some inspiration, to keep persisting, when things get tough.

I believe, that normalising women in construction is the key to shifting the cultural norms within the industry. This will only be achieved through raising the number of women in construction roles and through promotion of women within the industry.

What do you enjoy most about working in the construction industry?

I enjoy the continual challenges, as well as, learning and working with a team to achieve a common goal. I like working with different teams and people from all walks of life; working together, to see something transform, and knowing that you have been a part of creating that.

I studied design/architecture at university and this lead me into construction and eventually project management. I love the creativity of design and architecture but now love to see it in its built form. It’s a physical industry where the effort injected into a project is evident at completion, with a new building, interior fitout or community space.

How are you supported at Sarah as a women in construction?

Sarah Constructions practice what they preach in terms of diversity and gender equality in the workplace. This stems from the top in Sarah’s leadership team, filtering down through their workforce to become part of the daily culture. In my experience at Sarah, I have never felt that I didn’t have the same opportunity as the other male project managers. I have also felt that my opinion was taken into consideration and I was listened to.

Simple things that make you feel valued but not always experienced in every workplace. If I put my hand up for a challenging project that was a bit different to what I had previously delivered, they said ok go for it, instead of me feeling like I had to prove myself. I have felt overwhelmingly supported by Sarah and this has been refreshing at this time in my career. Support has come in many forms such as:

  • A senior management team that is genuine in supporting their staff in a practical sense but also in terms of their well-being.
  • Sarah are actively involved in industry programs that promote gender equality and diversity in the workplace and encourage their staff to participate and be involved in these programs.
  • Professional development through participation in a leadership program, regular opportunities to attend industry events and training opportunities.
  • Being nominated for not just one but many different industry awards.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in construction?

It’s a challenging industry for both men and women but with challenge comes reward and a greater sense of achievement. Aim high, follow your passion, back yourself and don’t take any setbacks personally. Keep persevering and learn to draw upon the resources around you. People love to help. Find a mentor through opportunities like the MBA’s Hi-Viz program, to provide you with further support.

If you’d like to know more about working in the construction industry, click here for information about careers at Sarah Constructions.

Building Excellence Awards 2018                                                                         

Sarah is committed to delivering the best results for our clients. We apply our solutions focused approach to every single project we complete. It is with pride and acknowledgement for the efforts of our staff, that we accept recognition for delivering award winning construction.

Sarah received Building Excellence Awards for the following projects this year:

St John’s Grammar, Performing Arts Centre – Winner Excellence in Commercial / Industrial Building $2 Million – $5 Million

Monarto Zoo, Lions 360 – Winner Excellence in Civil / Engineering Constructions

University of Adelaide, Infrastructure Investment Programme – Winner Excellence in Commercial Fitout over $5 Million.

Click here for a full list of building excellence awards that Sarah Constructions has received.

St-Johns-Performing-Art-future-of-education-construction
Education

Collaboration And Long Term Planning, The Future Of Education Construction

Leave a comment

By Jon Anderson, Construction Manager

As a specialist in Education Construction, and on-site Construction Manager at the University of Adelaide, I take a keen interest in the future of education construction. In recent years, I have witnessed the education landscape being reshaped by globalisation and the digital revolution.

Students are increasingly conducting their lives through social media and online services and they now expect educational institutions to communicate with them online too. Education infrastructure of today therefore needs to not only include state-of-the-art equipment for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects; education spaces must also be updated to accommodate contemporary trends in delivery.

Governments are investing millions to upgrade and build new educational facilities to match these changes; and savvy education institutions are adopting a collaborative approach with master builders, including long term planning to future-proof their property.

In order to capitalise on this investment, we need to understand that Infrastructure is interconnected; each building upgrades impacts stakeholders and operations from one facility to the next. If construction experts are involved in the early stages of planning, the impacts can be taken into consideration long before any works begin.

It’s about collaborating to give the client the right advice to future-proof for the next wave of technology.

The future of education construction

Long term planning

With a dynamic and forward facing approach, the University of Adelaide (UoA) also looks to be at the leading edge of education construction. UoA has a Masterplan, a vision for the future of their institution up to 2035. By adopting sequential long term planning with early involvement from Sarah Constructions, UoA infrastructure upgrades can be mapped out as a programme of works, not just as individual projects.

This approach delivers a streamlined process and ultimately saves money. With foresight and planning, we’re able to add value to the design development process by proposing constructability improvements and future-proof efficiencies.

With a commitment to facilities that allows students to learn and grow, St Johns Grammar Performing Arts Centre provides another example of success through early planning. Sarah had considerable input into the design and worked closely with the architects from the beginning, researching and coordinating affordable design solutions that remained faithful to the overall vision.

It was due to this close collaboration and expert cost management that savings could be made and redistributed to afford what other builders deemed impossible within their budget: A light, open plan learning centre, complete with top of the range equipment and the “wow” factor of a spectacular atrium.

Collaboration

Education institutions, by their very nature, are all about the future. They’re in the business of nurturing our next inventors, politicians, teachers and builders. It’s important to recognise that life now is a little different to back when we were in school. The internet, computers and mobile technology have changed the world we live in, almost beyond recognition.

Personally, I believe this evolution has largely been for the better. As globalisation and IT has developed, we have become more connected and therefore more collaborative. Processes have been made faster and easier; we can do more and so we expect more. The future of education construction needs to reflect these changes and leave room for further development.

With the Margaret Ames Learning Centre at Immanuel College, a key requirement of the brief was to foster collaboration. To encourage students in original thinking, the learning centre included open plan learning areas, interconnecting classrooms plus first class IT and AV capabilities. Immanuel College has embraced future focused thinking; their new centre was the first secondary teaching space of its kind in South Australia.

Similarly, the new Common Teaching Area and breakout space in the Barr Smith Building at UoA showcases the kind of flexible learning environments that are needed to be future-ready. Multipurpose rooms suitable for classes in anything from Japanese Language to Forensic Science, coupled with an unconventional, open plan breakout space, keeps UoA at the cutting-edge of education and maintains appeal within their target markets.

Welcome to the future

It’s not just collaborative learning environments that pave the way for the future. It’s collaborative business operations too. At Sarah Constructions, we enjoy less contractual, more collaborative relationships, because we understand that we’re all experts in our respective fields.

Delivering great outcomes requires input from experts across industry which is why we take a collaborative approach with our consultants. In the same way as it benefits the client to involve us as early as possible, it benefits us to involve our consultants and sub-contractors as early as possible as well. We believe that the sooner people come on board and become familiar with your operations, the better.

Taking a long term planning approach to Education Construction means you can map out a pragmatic and proactive process for realising your vision in the most efficient, cost-effective way. With early involvement from construction experts, you’re beginning that process of growth and transformation on the front foot, armed with the practical expertise of a team that specialises in turning visions into lasting legacies.

Sarah-Constructions-St-Marys-Students-and-project-team
Education

St Mary’s College – Embracing Construction

Leave a comment

St Mary’s College have embraced the project currently underway at their School, working with us to gain as many positives as possible out of the experience for their students. Taking note of the interest shown by some of the students while the footings were being drilled (see image below), School Principal Clare Nocka arranged for our Project Manager Jay Johnson and Site Manager Bojan Stegnjaic to take the hot seat and sit down for an interview with the girls!

“We found out that we are about 15% of the way through the project and that the hardest part is building on the intersection of two main roads. We also learnt that just like in our school, one of the challenges is managing all the relationships involved in such a big project. One of Jay’s jobs is to keep everyone happy and there are lots of people involved. A building project in a school environment brings particular complexities because keeping the students safe and the school running is an important factor.

Bojan and Jay managed the interview hot seat very graciously and we are thankful for how well our builders are working with our school team. Maddie, Edie and Arabella were very good interviewers, even in their excitement! They were disappointed to learn that they would not get a chance to drive one of the giant machines but I think they enjoyed the experience nonetheless.”

The team at Sarah strive to ensure that our clients not only love the completed project, but also the journey they take to get there. We hope that taking an active part in this experience inspires some of the St Mary’s College girls to consider construction as a career – they might even get the opportunity to drive some of the ‘giant machines’ in the future!

News

The Year That Was – CEO Update – Adrian Esplin

Leave a comment

Growth and development are words that are often used loosely in our industry to describe business improvement.  At Sarah we can stand by these statements following the sustainable growth of our business over the last 3 years due to the aligned personal development of our staff.  People who know me well understand my drive to continually simplify business and life, to understand the key ingredients that brought together and managed in the right way, create success.

For me, this is all about people; having the right people aligned with our values and sharing the same goals as our business.  I take my role as CEO very seriously – most importantly the trust placed by staff in ensuring their safety, livelihood, job satisfaction and career development can be met here at Sarah.  What drives me to continually develop and grow our business is to ensure we have the right projects, culture and values to deliver this outcome.

We should all be proud of the achievements delivered to our customers over the last 3 years at Sarah.  We have doubled in size, whilst delivering more than three times the annual work revenue when compared to 2014.  We have earned a reputation for great quality, industry recognised through being awarded MBA’s Commercial Builder for 2017, whilst producing many award winning projects including two national winning projects in 2016, and again in 2017 at the MBA national awards.  However the greatest recognition is the repeat business of our customers and most importantly our staff choosing to stay and develop their careers with Sarah.

The future is bright as we continue to build great relationships with our existing and also new customers.  Our future is strong as we continue to build long lasting relationships with each other at Sarah and the many associated industries including architects, cost managers, project managers and all design disciplines.

The challenges to our business will only continue, however with sound business strategy, continuing to develop great relationships across the industry and maintaining our strong values, I’m certain our success will continue for many years to come – after all, we are only 57 years young!