Welcome to the July edition of the CGC newsletter.
The beginning of the financial year is off to a flying start already with the market really picking up and lots of action here in the office.
In this month’s newsletter we have an insightful update on the Rail Industry thanks to Nick Curtis, one of CGC’s Directors, and Evan Morgans will fill you in on the social side.
Rail Industry Update, Nick Curtis, Director
The local Australian rail market has experienced a challenging few years. The slowdown of investment in mining expansion programs and the lack of federal funding for rail projects has created a period of stagnation across the industry where hiring activity has largely been confined to client side organisations. As such we have witnessed a significant downsizing of capability in the private sector with candidates moving across to government organisations and in many cases overseas projects in the UK and Middle East.
But this is all about to change…
Significant investment in rail from both the NSW and Victorian state governments has created a buzz in the industry. Level Crossing upgrades in Melbourne, Sydney Light Rail, Sydney Metro, Transport Access Program, Newcastle Light Rail, Parramatta Light Rail and the new Intercity Fleet will create opportunities for consultants, contractors and rail specialists across the East Coast with demand for specialist rail skills expected to be at unprecedented levels.
However, with investment come challenges in identifying and attracting talent.
Specialist rail talent has been a global commodity for a number of years. Australia has benefited from a migration of track, signalling and rail systems specialists over the last decade with the high Australian dollar and the GFC making a move downunder attractive, particularly for expats from the UK. Whilst the Australian culture, climate and lifestyle will always be an attractive sell to international candidates, the global competition for talent is now significantly higher than it was 5 years ago.
What is the outlook for jobs and candidates over the next few years?
In the first instance we will see a migration of candidates from states where there has not been committed investment in rail infrastructure projects. This will fill some of the immediate demand however, as projects enter delivery stage, this will not solve all of the requirements. As such we expect demand for skills to increase and salaries to rise in line with this. Creative recruitment and retention strategies will be key to an organisation’s ability to hire the right people. In addition flexibility in terms of engagement and the utilisation of specialist contractors will also need to be considered.
Competition for skills
We have touched on the international war for talent in terms of rail specialists but it is important to look at other projects and industries which will also compete for staff who would otherwise be ear- marked for rail projects. For project based roles the rail contractors will be competing with other infrastructure projects such as the West Connex and Pacific Highway for engineers and site based supervisors. For station upgrades the booming building construction market will compete for Project Managers, Site Managers and Contracts Administrators.
What to do next
After a challenging few years caution and conservatism has underpinned many organisations’ approach to hiring. The reluctance to hire without a set project or full proof business case is understandable, however, it is now time to break off some of those shackles and begin to look to the future and consider how upcoming investment will impact the shape and size of your organisation in the coming 12 months. Aligning with a specialist recruiter, planning for hires and speaking to potential candidates will ensure that you are one step ahead of the game when projects hit the market.
For candidates the pendulum is about to swing back into your favour. It is important to weigh up your medium term objectives when deciding your next move. How will that project impact your future career? Does the organisation’s culture and approach to projects align with yours? Are you looking for short-term financial gain or long-term professional development?
All of these questions should be considered carefully before considering your next career move.
To discuss the local rail market, project planning and upcoming opportunities further, please contact me at nick@cgcrecruitment.com
Building & Civil Consultants, Billy Versey and Dan Kundi, recently attended the CCF NSW’s annual Earth Awards at Rosehill Racecourse.
Aside from the event being a great opportunity for networking, The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon. Andrew Constance MP was the guest of honour who gave an overview of infrastructure plans being implemented over the next 4 years.
CGC social
CGC headed out as a team on Friday the 19th June to the Wharf Bar in Manly for dinner and drinks, before going to see the Mighty Manly Sea Eagles triumph over the Tigers at Fortress Brookvale.
Rail and Civil Infrastructure consultant Rory Todd recently applied for a job as the club mascot, and got an insight into the role straight from the Eagles mouth!
We celebrated two birthdays at CGC in the last month: Glynis Macdonald, our amazing Office Manager, and Billy Versey clocked up a few more KMs, Happy birthday Glynis and Billy!
Promotions
It is with great pleasure to announce that CGC Recruitment have recently promoted two of their team.
Evan Morgans has been promoted to Principal Consultant. He started with CGC in April 2012 and over the last 3 years established himself as the market leader in recruiting Building Services Consulting professionals across Australia. Evan continues to give a first class consulting service to the multi-disciplinary and SME client basis he aligns himself with. His knowledge on the market, projects, salaries and industry trends is second to none.
Dave Thompson has been promoted to Senior Consultant. Having been with CGC for 18 months, Dave has elevated himself into a contract specialist and leading revenue contributor to CGC over the last 6 months. He is now supplying Building Services professionals on a contract basis to consultancies and major contractors involved in some of Australia’s largest building projects.
Both Dave and Evan are a pleasure to have around the office. CGC Recruitment would like to thank them both for their professionalism and contribution to the business to date.
