“It’s fun, but it’s also educational,” says Gathercole. “People learn about each other’s heritage and what ‘home’ tastes like. We’re small enough to be informal, but everyone understands there’s a serious side to the business as well.” PARTNERSHIPS, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND A 200-PLUS SUPPLIER NETWORK In an industry where the end product is only as strong as the weakest subcontractor, Construction Zone has invested heavily in building a resilient, trusted supply chain. Across Australia, the company works with an estimated 200 to 500 suppliers and subcontractors, covering everything from joinery, carpentry, and metalwork to electrical, stone, and specialised trades. Many of these relationships stretch back years. “It’s constant communication and constant feedback,” Gathercole explains. “Those partners represent us in front of our clients. Their success is our success. When they consistently deliver on time and to the standard our clients expect, we make sure to reward that loyalty with ongoing work.” At the same time, the company is careful not to become overly reliant on a single contractor – even a high-performing one. Competitive tendering remains an important discipline, and Construction Zone intentionally rotates opportunities so that new firms can build familiarity with key brand standards and scopes. “You might have an electrical contractor who knows a particular client inside out,” Gathercole says. “They win many tenders because there’s no reinvention required. But if you never give others a chance, they stop pricing altogether. We need flexibility and agility. That means having several capable partners ready when you suddenly have four or five projects to deliver for the same brand.” NAVIGATING RISING COSTS, LABOUR CONSTRAINTS, AND REGULATION Like the rest of the construction sector, Construction Zone has had to navigate a volatile environment in recent years. Post-COVID supply disruptions pushed material costs up by 20–25 percent, forcing difficult conversations with clients. “When you price a project at 25 percent more than it cost two years earlier, clients naturally ask why,” Chait notes.“Our answer was,‘Do you read the newspaper?’ It’s been a global issue. Those costs have eased a bit, but the focus now is on value engineering and cost management so clients still feel they’re getting strong value.” Labour availability is another headwind. While conditions have improved, the looming Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games are already pulling trades and construction expertise toward Queensland, where major stadium and infrastructure projects will be ramping up in the years ahead. That migration puts pressure on labour supply in Victoria and other states. Regulation remains a longstanding challenge as well. Approvals and permit processes can still be slow, a contrast to the rapid delivery windows clients 21 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 11 CONSTRUCTION ZONE
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