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Taylor is committed to providing employment opportunity and professional development experiences that support and complement related external studies. As part of this commitment, Taylor works with the NSW Government and Department of Education who deliver the Infrastructure Traineeship Program, offering a pathway into a career within the infrastructure industry.

The NSW Government Infrastructure Traineeship program is a two-year traineeship offering Year 12 school leavers an opportunity to be paid to learn while applying their learning through work-based experience in the public and private sectors.

Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2022, of which Taylor hosted six trainees in 2022 and 2023. Charbel Helou, Ethan Daw, Ethan Le, Ethan Mosca, Evan Bicopoulos, and Zakaria El-Sabeh each completed an eight-month rotation at a Taylor project site, spanning education, commercial, data centre, student accommodation, and health sectors.

Reflecting on his experience with Taylor in the Infrastructure Traineeship, Ethan Le stated:

“My time at Taylor was an incredible learning experience. What I loved most about my rotation there was the people I got to work with. The supportive team, both in Head Office and on-site, made me feel at ease and helped me settle in quicker than expected. I particularly appreciated the friendly work environment and hands-on learning opportunities to truly improve my skills, as there was always someone ready to lend a hand. Seeing projects come to life from their plans was immensely rewarding, motivating me to pursue a career in construction. The sense of teamwork and personal growth I experienced was invaluable, and I would highly recommend Taylor to other trainees for their excellent learning environment and supportive culture.”

In a creative blend of camaraderie and charity, Taylor hosted a construction-themed Bake Off Challenge in support of the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea!

Team Taylor was encouraged to showcase their baking skills with a unique construction twist. From mini trucks to deconstructed demolition treats and double layered cakes, staff put their creative hats on to create edible masterpieces for a chance to win prizes.

Morning teas across our job sites were filled with laughter, delicious food, and friendly competition as staff bonded while raising funds for cancer research, prevention, and support services. Almost 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer before age 85, with every dollar bringing us closer to a cancer-free future.

Congratulations to Olivia Losurdo, Marketing Coordinator, for winning first place with her tiered cake construction masterpiece and Jacklyn Wickham, Senior Marketing Manager, for earning second place with her handcrafted mini truck and trailers.

A special mention to our judges – Clive Wickham, Min Saw, Roy Li, and Georgia Barnes – who had the challenging task of independently evaluating each creation. Their judgements were guided by the criteria of Presentation, Resourcefulness, Use of Materials, and Creativity. Thank you for ensuring a fair and delicious competition!

Embracing our company values of creativity, collaboration, and community spirit, the morning teas reminded us that whether we are on the construction site or in the kitchen, our collective efforts can build a better, healthier future for all.

Thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves, whether to bake, create or support, your participation has helped make this a success. Together, we’ve raised over $600 for the Cancer Council, contributing to help make a difference to those impacted by cancer. There is still time to donate by visiting our fundraising page here.

The first combined Cadet, Graduate, and Apprentice peer group catch up of 2024 was recently held at The First Building of Australia’s Newest City, housing the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF).

The event allows these three groups to share their experiences, build networks, and develop their understanding of different divisions and projects at Taylor. At each meeting, a Cadet, Graduate, or Apprentice from the hosting site presents to the cohort about their project, outlining the unique challenges involved and innovative solutions created by the project team. This initiative assists individuals in achieving the Communication competencies within the Cadet and Graduate Matrix.

To begin the catch up, our Cadet Peer Group champions, Dylan Massad and Ervin Bunic, welcomed everyone and discussed updates to the Cadet matrix. Jade Biazzo, Cadet, then offered insights from Taylor’s Pre-Construction division about projects in our pipeline and their status.

Amanda Bruhn, Cadet on the AMRF site, provided an in-depth presentation detailing the project’s scope, initial procurement, programme, construction methodology, and personal lessons she has learnt. Following this, Amanda led the group on an informative site tour along with Apprentice, Baris Ozturk, who provided additional insights and fun facts about the project.

The cohort then heard from Savcon Managing Director and Construction Manager, Mario Savva and Lindsay May, who discussed key innovations on the project, including the mass use of Cross Laminated Timber. Jason Tulich and Scott Dobson, our Graduate Peer Group champions, closed out the event with a short Q&A session and reminders for upcoming company events.

Thank you to our Peer Group champions, AMRF project team for hosting the event and to all those involved in organising the catch up!

 

Team Taylor came together for our first Let’s Get Together of 2024, held at one of our most unique and impressive projects, The Scots College John Cunningham Student Centre. Following the cessation of construction activity for the day, all staff reconnected while enjoying wood-fired pizzas and a selection of beverages from local food trucks.

Guided by the Taylor project team, staff were permitted to tour the amazing Scottish Baronial designed building, taking in the stunning intricate details and finishes. The camaraderie amongst Team Taylor was strong, as staff shared laughs catching up with each other and meeting new faces.

Towards the end of the evening, Ben Folkard, General Manager – Refurbishment & Live Environments, hosted a casual fireside chat with the site team who shared stories and fun facts about the project. Everyone then heard closing remarks from Managing Director, Mark Taylor, who spoke passionately about the importance of workplace culture and shared his views on what is required to strengthen team cohesion, leaving the team inspired for the upcoming quarter.

Our Let’s Get Together events are the perfect chance for our team to all catch up while sharing in the success of other projects in the company. We understand the importance of taking the time to connect as a key element in nurturing and building on our thriving culture.

Thank you to our Scots College project team for hosting and offering exclusive insights into one of our notable live projects. We look forward to our next Let’s Get Together later this year!

Taylor was proud to support the launch of the Property Industry Foundation’s Change Makers Series on Youth Homelessness Matters Day earlier this month. Presented by PIF’s Future Leaders Committee and hosted by Charter Hall, the event brought together 60 of our industry’s future leaders to raise awareness, generate public discussion, and work together on ways to make a tangible impact on youth homelessness.  

Four Taylor representatives attended the thought-provoking event which was filled with networking, a panel discussion, as well as interactive team building and ice-breaker activities, prompting discussions on innovative ways to tackle youth homelessness. Part of this involved Future Leaders working together to prepare one hundred Two Good Co Care Packs generously donated by Charter Hall, with each pack to go toward women’s refuge.  

Thank you to panellists, Natalie Devlin from Charter Hall, Kyle Westgarth from Two Good Co and Homeless Youth Advocate, Brendan Brest, for sharing their insights and experiences. Thank you also to the PIF Future Leaders Committee, championed by our very own Elizabeth Mackison, for bringing this great initiative to life. Taylor looks forward to continuing our support for The Change Makers series at their future events.  

If you would like to get involved in future events or donate towards Youth Homelessness Matters Day, please visit: https://give.pif.com.au/event/change-makers/home 

Team Taylor is proud to partner with the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to make a meaningful impact in our community. Our team has now completed two blood donations since December 2023, helping to change 27 lives of those in need.

Blood donations play an essential role in supporting Australia’s healthcare professionals, and can be used in over 25 medical fields. Giving blood is important in the treatment of diseases including cancer, anaemia, stomach and kidney conditions, as well as the management of trauma and surgeries. Blood donations can also be administered to help cases associated with pregnancy and young children. Australia needs over 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand, yet only 1 in 30 people donate. 

Thank you to our team members who have participated so far. We look forward to completing more donations throughout the year!

Recently a group of our emerging leaders attended the NSW Future Directions Outlook hosted by the Property Council of Australia at the Establishment in Sydney’s CBD. The event was a key professional development opportunity for our Taylor representatives to gain valuable insights on the property assets market and build their professional connections through meaningful industry networking.

To commence the event, Paul Bloxham, HSBC’s Chief Economist for Australia, New Zealand, and Global Commodities, treated the audience to an engaging introduction. Bloxham opened by giving a succinct, yet thorough, international economic overview following the Covid-19 pandemic. He continued with an analysis on the state of the Australian property market for the foreseeable future.

The audience then heard from the panel of industry leading professionals who weighed in on the topic. Discussion flowed exploring key trends shaping the property market including ‘sticky’ inflation, rising activity in transactions, challenges surrounding supply chains, and stabilisation of capital and construction costs. The session was moderated by PCA Future Directions Committee Member and Head of Analytics at 151 Property, Sachin Dave.

Thank you to the panel for sharing your unique perspectives.

• Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist, Australia, New Zealand and Global Commodities, HSBC
• Kylee Anatasi, Partner, Commercial Advisory & Transactions, Infrastructure, Assets and Places, KPMG
• Natalie Tan, Head of Institutional Capital, Dexus
• Rebecca Angel, Managing Director, Level Six Venture Management

Taylor is a long-standing and proud series sponsor of NSW Future Directions, represented on the committee by Events and Engagement Officer, Georgia Barnes. Investing in our next generation, Future Directions is an initiative developed to support young property professionals under 35 years old, by providing pathways and networking opportunities through engaging events, committees, research, and learning.

As a gesture of appreciation, Taylor’s Western Sydney Site team held a BBQ for their dedicated subcontractors.

The team enjoyed a delicious BBQ lunch filled with meats, skewers, calamari, and salads by Harry’s Charcoal BBQ Services while catching up with each other and sharing laughs. The BBQ was more than just a celebration; it was also an opportunity to address the critical issue of mental health in the construction industry.

Foundation House, a non-for-profit alcohol, drug and gambling addiction treatment centre, delivered a compelling presentation to all attendees raising awareness of mental health and addiction in the industry.

As part of the BBQ, the Taylor project team organised a raffle, offering Bunnings Warehouse gift vouchers as prizes. $1,050 was raised and will go towards supporting Foundation House’s commendable rehabilitation services.

We would like to thank Foundation House for coming to site to present, and to all involved in organising a great event!

Team Taylor recently attended KARI’s 2024 Pathways to Uni Expo, which aimed to inspire Years 10-12 First Nations students and provide insights into alternative career pathways after high school.

Represented by Emily Carlton, People Relations Coordinator, and Elizabeth Mackison, Submissions Manager, Taylor showcased our Cadet, Apprentice, and Traineeship Programs, along with our Annual KARI Women Breaking Ground Scholarship. The Taylor stall stood out amongst others, with an interactive contest where students could play a digital Spin the Wheel to win various prizes.

The Expo saw a range of Universities and employers across construction, health, media, telecommunication, and banking industries connect with students to discuss different University entry pathways and explore career opportunities they possibly didn’t know existed.

As a business built on fostering meaningful relationships, Taylor is committed to partnering with organisations like KARI to create employment, education, and training opportunities, while strengthening cultural and community connections with local communities.

We would like to thank KARI and all those who came by our stall to learn about fulfilling employment opportunities in construction.