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Sarah Constructions, Putting People First in Commercial Construction
Careers, News, Our Values

Putting People First in Commercial Construction

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with Jayne Fitzpatrick, Project Administrator

Commercial Construction is often depicted by large buildings, steel structures and industrial design. From a process delivery perspective, this is correct but the fundamental aspect is missing, and the critical factor that drives the success of large construction projects, is the people managing the process.

This is why, at Sarah Constructions, our number one business value is People First – our team, our clients, our contractors. As stated by CEO, Adrian Esplin “without people we are nothing, our business is purely about people. We don’t make products; through our team of experts we manage advance problem processing. We’re a business that consists of people who are highly motivated to achieve great outcomes for our clients.”

The terminology ‘people first’ is one frequently used in business but not always delivered in practice. The Sarah difference is that we follow through, this isn’t just something we say, it’s how we do business. Sarah has a reputation for setting high standards and this comes from our total commitment to people first in commercial construction, from the top down.

To find out more about what it means to work in a business where people come first, we asked Jayne Fitzpatrick, Project Administrator at Sarah Constructions.

Employing The Right People, Not Just The Right Skills

Without a background in construction, Jayne is not the typical project management candidate for a commercial construction company. Her background is in retail management, where Jayne crossed into project management working for Myer, managing the build process as the client representative.

“I really loved the project management experience and decided on a career change. Sarah looked beyond the traditional requirements; that’s the beauty of the management team here, they see individuals and consider their fit within the company from a big picture, cultural fit perspective” said Jayne.

With a people first in commercial construction focus, at Sarah we place an emphasis on the business fit of each individual within the organisation. Specialised construction skills are ones that can be learnt, for those willing and ambitious to do so. “I bring business administration skills, financial planning, organisation and people management to my role. At the beginning, what I didn’t have was the building knowledge but Adrian recognised my passion and drive to learn; this, combined with Sarah’s commitment to foster and grow their staff, provided the opportunity for me to prove myself” said Jayne.

With a wide range of professional development avenues, at Sarah we are committed to finding and supporting the people with the best all-round fit for our business.

Jayne Fitzpatrick Onsite For Sarah Constructions

Jayne Fitzpatrick, Project Administrator at Sarah Constructions

People First In Commercial Construction, From Top To Bottom

Moving into the high pressure, fast paced commercial construction industry within a growing business, Jayne expected that it might take some time to get to know the Senior Management team. It therefore made a very positive impact on her that at Sarah, she walked into an open and friendly environment with no sign of an ‘ivory tower’ for staff at the top. “Even though there is so much going on, the Senior Managers take the time to know who you are and what you’re working on. This makes you feel special. The honesty and genuine interest in who I am flows into a business sense, it gives credibility and builds trust. From my perspective, this transfers to the client side where trust and a solid business relationships are absolutely critical.”

“I’ve been in business a long time, I’m at the stage in my career where cultural fit is very important to me. Some companies have values on a wall, I’ve not once felt that the Sarah values are tokenistic. The Senior Management team know who is working on what project, they make an effort to interact and know who you are. In the day to day business practice, they put people first. You feel a part of it, there is genuine interest in what you’re doing and this makes you feel valued for your contribution.” said Jayne.

This is reinforced by Adrian “it’s critical to the business that we get the right people. People who are focused on being part of something that’s bigger than themselves, part of the team that delivers positive business outcomes. Most people want to part of something more, a community, and as a business we provide that. We consciously foster the ability for our team to contribute and do something more than what they can as individuals. It’s all about people working together in teams and getting great outcomes for our clients.”

Two-way Relationships To Deliver Results

The advantage of putting emphasis on people first in commercial construction is that it builds the foundation for mutually beneficial business relationships. “Our focus is around making sure that the client is happy. We go beyond what is required, we bend over backwards to accommodate. This doesn’t mean that the client relationship is one way. We are transparent and build our business relationships based on trust. By making sure our clients are looked after, and that our contractors are looked after, we strengthen Sarah’s reputation as a leader in our industry” said Jayne.

Focusing on team contributions is an important aspect of how Sarah embodies the value of People First. The Sarah team includes both our staff and our contractors. “Our contractors represent us, so it’s very important to build our relationships with them. They represent Sarah at the cold front, so nurturing that relationship is a key factor in managing project delivery for our clients. We know that if everyone doesn’t pull their weight, then projects aren’t completed. We work through the challenges together and we celebrate our successes together; it’s not about individuals, it’s about the team.”

“As a whole nearly everybody that I have interacted with has that genuine desire to deliver results and to do it together” said Jayne.

Jayne sums up her experience working at Sarah within a People First approach by saying “I really feel like I have landed in the right spot at the right time in my life. There is not a day when I don’t want to go to work. I just enjoy the work and the team environment so much. There is genuine passion at Sarah, to build opportunities for people in our state. I’m proud to be even just a small part of that. I can see the direction the company is going and it’s great.”

At Sarah, People First means getting the right blend of people and experience. We look for people whose values and career goals align with the values and goals of the business. To deliver great outcomes for our clients, we support and nurture the people who are dedicated to working together, to achieve our business goals.

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

St Mary’s College – Embracing Construction

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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!

Health

Sportsmed Stepney Expansion: Adding Value For Client & Patients

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By Jay Johnson, Project Manager.

Transforming the existing SPORTSMED Stepney site into a state-of-the-art healthcare hub that provides a one-stop-shop for patients, while minimising impact to ongoing site access, was not a simple task.

As a Project Manager, I’m passionate about what I do. To ensure we delivered results of the highest quality, it was critical that we worked closely with SPORTSMED Stepney to understand and support the needs of their patients. That’s why I’m particularly proud of our work on their recent expansion.

While the existing facility continued operations, 5 separate tenancies were developed. Three of these – Dr Jones & Partners, Clinpath and Terry White Chemists – were fitted out by the tenants’ own contractors under Sarah’s supervision.

This expansion makes it possible for patients to undertake their entire healthcare journey from diagnosis and treatment (including hospital stay) through to rehabilitation, all in one location.

A stress-free experience for the client

With multiple contractors on site, including those completing the individual fitouts for Terry White, Dr Jones, and Clinpath, it was important that the entire process be managed on SPORTSMED’s behalf.

Without Sarah managing that process, there would have been 5 different builders working inside a shell without an end target, or a consistent focus on quality, time and money.

From quality control to compliance with statutory regulations, car parking, staging and safety, Sarah ensured that the project ran smoothly. This meant SPORTSMED could concentrate on servicing their patients.

The entire project was run to best suit SPORTSMED Stepney operations. Of course, this was challenging at times. The power shutdown, for example, was coordinated on a Sunday to make sure there was minimal impact to SPORTSMED. This doesn’t sound like much. However, getting a statutory body like SA Power Networks to agree to perform works on a set day within a 2 hour window is a mammoth task.

A massive amount of planning and negotiation by Sarah ensured that the power went off for 2 hours only, and was up and running again by a certain time. That was huge for us to get over the line. The client probably gave it about 2 seconds thought, which means we did our job well.

Commitment and delivery 

We’ve been consistently available to provide guidance and manage any teething issues throughout the handover. That’s what Project Management is all about. It’s about problem solving. A Project Manager is there to oversee and manage issues.

Client satisfaction is one of my main focuses on a project. Completing your own construction brief is one thing. But supervising other people’s is another. But we do it to ensure the job gets done properly.

You could see on this project that everyone was passionate about what they were doing, in the amount of extra time, weekends and abnormal start times that went on.

We wanted to be there for the client. That shows how much we care about what we do.

A convenient experience for SPORTSMED Stepney patients

CEO of SPORTSMED·SA Alan Morrison made clear that the patient experience was their primary concern:

“What we are trying to do at SPORTSMED·SA is really integrate as many aspects of the patient journey into the one hub so they can transition seamlessly between them all in one episode of treatment and care.”

Working closely with Hassel Architects, the Sarah team had a clear vision of the convenience the client was trying to achieve at SPORTSMED Stepney. Patients could see the doctor, have scans at Dr Jones and Partners, have surgery in the hospital, visit Clinpath for pathology services, get their prescriptions from Terry White, and grab a coffee in the cafe while they wait for results, all in the same location.

Pride and professionalism

At the end of the day, it’s about reputation. We have a level of professionalism to which we want to be held accountable.

At Sarah, it’s our flexibility and solutions focus that adds value for our clients. And that’s really what the Stepney expansion is about for SPORTSMED. It’s about adding value for their patients.

“We’ve got the best medical care here, that’s covered. So it’s about giving our patients the very best experience, above and beyond the treatment they receive here.” CEO SPORTSMED

It’s not a fun time when you’re injured or receiving treatment, so creating a more pleasant environment with conveniences all in the one location was a job worth doing for the Sarah team.

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Paul Marino Project Manager Sarah Constructions Winning Award
Careers

From Graduate To Project Manager In Under Five Years

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– by Paul Marino, Project Manager (pictured above right)

I’m very proud of my rapid career progression at Sarah Constructions. The journey has taken a lot of hard work but I’ve had plenty of support from the business, so if I can help just one reader on their journey to a top career in construction here at Sarah, then I’m happy to give something back.

My name is Paul Marino, I’m 28 years old and I’m a Project Manager at Sarah Constructions. Currently I’m working with Minda on one of Sarah’s biggest projects to date, but I only started with the business 5 years ago, after graduating from Uni SA with a degree in Construction Management and Economics.

I’ve achieved a great deal in a short space of time; I’ve been pretty lucky and had a lot of opportunities, but that came from a lot of hard work and having a clear vision of what I wanted.

How my career in construction began

I’ve been around construction my whole life; my father was a bricklayer who then started his own domestic construction company, so I was exposed to it at a young age, labouring with my old man, and developing a good appreciation for the evolution of a structure and the different facets of the building industry.

Not just building, but interacting with different types of people and seeing satisfaction in clients. I suppose that’s what drove me to follow this career path.

My career progression at Sarah

I started as a Project Assistant for the first couple of years at Sarah, then moved to a Project Administrator role, running smaller type projects on my own. After that, I became a Project Manager.

I was based on site with the Site Manager when I first arrived, learning the detail of how a structure actually goes together. Then I transitioned back into the office after 6-8 months and learned the admin side of project management; RFIs, variations, and client meetings, for example.

That first year was a solid foundation for me as a junior to absorb as much information and technical knowledge as I could.

Investing in and supporting people

My Project Manager back then saw that I had potential and that I really wanted to progress, so he invested a lot of time in me. Plus, receiving constant feedback from management gave me plenty of opportunity to prove myself.

I believe that it comes down to how much you want to succeed. If you want to go far, if you want to push yourself to be the best you can be, learn as much as you can, and develop as a person and a professional, then this is the place to do it.

“Sarah will invest as much time and money as they can in your development to ensure you get to where you want to go.”

 

For me, it’s not just a job at Sarah, there’s a career here. Friends of mine in the industry that work with different companies just don’t have the support that we do here. The business values mirror those that we have as individuals, which means that we’re all on the same page working together as a team.

Sarah is like a family. We’re all striving to be the best we can be, not only as individuals but as a business. I guess that’s why the business is growing so rapidly and constantly, because we all know what we need to do to achieve success.

Opportunities for Graduates

There are a lot of different career opportunities here; if not in Project Management, there are other areas, such as Estimating, Design Management, or Site Supervision. The Sarah Graduate Program is such a great initiative because it shows you what we’re about and the various areas of the business in which you can succeed. We’ve got so many good experienced people here, that Graduates gain terrific knowledge and exposure to what we do.

As a business we’re quite youthful; it shows that Sarah is investing in the future, bringing in the right people and training current staff to develop the younger recruits. It’s great for me because previously I’ve been investing in myself and increasing my own knowledge, but now I’m the one investing in juniors and helping to develop them, which allows me to grow professionally. Being selected to participate in the Sarah Future Leaders program last year, which is all about nurturing leadership skills within existing Sarah staff, was a big part of that.

My advice to you

On site I learned so much. Your university degree doesn’t provide you with the day-to-day work experience you need to understand what this industry is all about, so I highly recommend work experience to anyone. Even if it’s unpaid, get involved as much as you can.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you, if you’re lucky enough to come and work at Sarah, is to work hard. If you work hard, the technical and soft skills will follow. You just need to be patient on the journey because opportunities will arise here.

“The sky’s the limit here. There isn’t another builder within Adelaide that can provide what Sarah can to a Graduate.”

 

So much more than building

At the end of the day, a career in construction is so much more than building. With teamwork and collaboration, it’s trust that we build, not just buildings. Clients invest a lot of time and money into a product that we need to produce at a high quality, so we need to think like the client and their customers, as well as builders.

That’s why it’s so rewarding to be recognised within the industry. We recently won building excellence awards from the Master Builders Association and also the Australian Institute of Building, for our work on the Wilderness project. I get a huge sense of satisfaction from seeing my client happy; not just with a job well done, but also from having received external commendation for our work together. It’s especially rewarding to know that, because we won the category here in SA, we are also entered into the national award, which supports our position as industry leader nationwide.

Sarah Constructions is all about opportunity, reward, and work life balance. Whatever you’re going through in your life, they’ll be there for you to help you succeed. It’s a great place to work! All of us here count ourselves pretty lucky.

Sarah Safety Protective Clothing
Safety

What is Safety to me?

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At Sarah, we put people first.  We’re in the business of building excellent lasting relationships, so the safety of all people on site is paramount.  Before we even begin a project, our risk management process includes a start-up meeting with the project team to identify and record construction risks and any client-identified risks.  We collaborate to ensure that nothing is missed; we implement a best practice approach to Work Health and Safety (WHS) Management.

To demonstrate the Sarah culture of safety first, we asked one of our Project Managers, Peter Golotta to share what safety means to him:

What is Safety to me…?

Safety is a non-negotiable;

Safety is caring for one another;

Safety is calling it out if you feel something is not right;

Safety is about thinking ahead and pre-empting controls;

Safety is working together to produce a health conscious approach to our daily activities;

Safety is sharing our experiences to learn and grow as industry professionals;

Safety is a psychological awareness and focus on mental health;

Safety is going home to your loved ones in the same manner you arrived at work…but…with a more positive attitude towards our actions and the welfare of people, colleagues, neighbour and mates.

Further evidence of Sarah’s commitment to and high performance in WHS, is its accreditation in the OFSC scheme, which is only granted to contractors that demonstrate a robust WHSMS reinforced through sound implementation of the Health and Safety Management Plan on all projects.  We wear this badge proudly because it shows that, at Sarah, we look after our teams on site. Our staff, contractors and customers know, when doing business with us, they’re in safe hands.