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The Taylor team at our Roseville College site hosted ten migrant and refugee women who are training to enter the construction industry. The women are supported through the University of Newcastle’s (UON) programme for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women and are the first cohort of students studying a Certificate II in Construction at TAFE NSW (Belmont).

UON Professor Temitope Egbelakin teamed up with the education provider to launch a training program to help local migrant and refugee women enter the workforce and break into the construction industry. As a migrant herself Temi, understands the challenge of joining the construction industry with the additional adversity of starting over in a new country.

In the course, the women learn real-world carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills, which will not only will set them up for paid jobs and apprenticeships in the future, but also restore confidence that women can do whatever they want. Many of the women arrived in Australia in the search for freedom and a better life after fleeing their home country.

Congratulations to Amanda Bruhn, Cadet, for her Apprenticeship Careers Australia nomination as Trainee of the Year and becoming a finalist for the Women in Trades – Trainee of the Year Award.

Amanda’s career journey began in 2020, when she was searching for a job after high school. While looking for jobs across various industries, Amanda came across School Infrastructure NSW’s Traineeship Program. She applied for the Project Management Traineeship, thinking the program resembled events management, which she originally intended to pursue a career in. Reflecting back, Amanda states it “was a very big shock to the system” when she discovered her traineeship was in the construction industry.

The traineeship spanned two years and involved rotations through three sectors of the construction industry. Completing her first rotation at Taylor, Amanda gained insights into project management and the industry while working on a New Build Project. During the traineeship, Amanda successfully completed her TAFE NSW Certificate IV in Project Management whilst organising Program-related events and assisting with fundraisers for Mates In Construction.

At Taylor, our people are the key to our success. We understand the importance of taking time to connect with each other and meet new team members as a key element in nurturing and building on our thriving culture.

Recently, employees from all facets of the business met at Taylor’s historic Refurbishment and Live Environment project site, Rosebery Engine Yards, for the last Let’s Get Together of 2023. Following the cessation of construction activity for the day, the Taylor team came together to reconnect while enjoying food and beverages from a selection of local food trucks.

To begin the brief formalities, Steve Ziaziaris, Senior Project Manager at Rosebery Engine Yards, welcomed guests and outlined the scope of the project. George Bardas, Chief Executive Officer, then provided an overall update of the business, followed by Mark Taylor, Managing Director, and Clive Wickham, Chief Financial Officer, presenting employee milestones and length of service awards.

On Thursday 5th October, the Property Council of Australia NSW Future Directions Committee hosted their annual Fireside Chat with Mark Bouris AM at The Fullerton Hotel, welcoming property leaders across all ages and levels of professional experience. Ten representatives from Taylor attended the captivating conversation, No Bull with Mark Bouris, moderated by Amy Williams, Head of Strategic Growth & Partnerships at Growthbuilt.

Known as one of Australia’s most well-respected financial advisors, Mark Bouris shared his insightful journey to success. Mark started by delving into what he was like in his childhood and adolescence, followed by his career trajectory and growth, then onto launching Wizard Home Loans. The conversation naturally flowed with reflections on his relationship and key learnings from valued mentor and friend, Kerry Packer. 

The successful entrepreneur continued by sharing insights surrounding his unique business model and operations which effectively disrupted the industry landscape of the time. He then finished by answering various questions from the audience, communicating his thoughts on topics including Artificial Intelligence and Longevity. 

As a proud Gold Sponsor of the UTS Built Environment Association (BEA), Taylor attended the BEA’s Industry Cocktail Night on Friday, 29 September 2023, hosted at the UTS Aerial Function Centre. 

The Industry Cocktail Night is a professional networking and careers fair event held in collaboration with the UTS School of Built Environment and Industry Partners. Over 350 First and Second-year students attended from three universities; UTS Built Environment Association, UNSW Built Environment Student Association, UNSW Architecture Society, and Sydney University Designer’s Association. 

The event provides opportunities for Construction, Property and Architecture students to meet potential employers and forge connections with industry professionals. Team Taylor was represented by Emily Carlton (People Relations Coordinator), Christina Succar (Graduate Site Engineer), and Ervin Bunic (Project Engineer), who informed students about Taylor’s projects, culture, and Cadet Program.

At Taylor, we understand the challenges women face in our industry, and are actively working to raise awareness and drive gender balance across our business, and the industry. Our sector-leading Taylor Women in Construction (TWIC) program provides engagement opportunities for our female members across all facets of the business. Through TWIC, we work to strengthen the internal and industry connections for our women, as well as provide the chance to catch-up and meet new faces.

On 25 September 2023, Taylor’s Scape Kingsford project hosted our recent TWIC Tea and Tour. The event began with light pastries and tea as attendees caught up with each other, learned about the TWIC Committee, upcoming industry and company events, and gained an overview of the Scape Kingsford student accommodation project and its key innovations.

Works are progressing well at the heritage rich industrial icon, Rosebery Engine Yards. Numerous milestones have recently been achieved, including the commencement of internal linings and shopfront glazing finishes. This marks a significant milestone because the project team has invested several months in upgrading the old timber building to meet current standards. Due to the heritage nature of the site, all elements of the existing building have been assessed for strength, density, and compliance to ensure alignment with the new design. While this process has required patience, it has been extremely rewarding with new learnings and discoveries every day. 

Additional milestones include installation of the main roof, which is nearing completion, removal of paint on external brickwork, and glass installation that meets stringent Section J requirements. Cladding, windows, and masonry works to the façade are gaining momentum, revealing Goodman’s vision of blending old and new.  

Significant progress has been made over the past month at The First Building of Bradfield City Centre, home to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility. September saw multiple milestones as we successfully poured the office slab, the manufacturing halls’ columns, and the south wall, further reinforcing the project’s structural integrity. The team is currently preparing the plinths for the structural steel column pour. Concurrently, the excavation of the site’s entrance roads is underway, with ongoing compaction of the fill material. 

The arrival of structural steel on-site this week is a pivotal moment on our project timeline, which will be closely followed by the pouring of the manufacturing hall ground floor slab, leaving only the central spine slab on the horizon.

In a powerful show of support for mental health awareness, Taylor’s Eastern Creek Site participated in MATES in Construction Fly the Flag Day, raising an impressive $1,355. This day held special significance as it coincided with R U OK? Day, emphasising the importance of conversations with friends and colleagues. R U OK? and MIC advocate for the power of simple conversations, highlighting that checking in and having a chat can make a significant difference, even saving lives.  

Taylor’s Eastern Creek Site embraced this message by actively participating in Fly the Flag Day, which aims to raise awareness and funds for mental health initiatives. While the site couldn’t physically “fly” the flag, the team came together to showcase their support creatively. The enthusiasm of the Taylor team was evident as they engaged in fundraising activities throughout the day.

By participating in events like MATES in Construction Fly the Flag Day, Taylor prioritises the mental well-being of its team members, reinforcing the idea that meaningful conversations can make a difference in supporting mental health.