Nothing goes to waste at Eather Group - including talent

Eather Group lives and breathes their vision of a circular economy in sourcing, transporting and re-purposing material. The Institute of Civil Infrastructure (ICI) is very excited to be working with this award-winning, proactive and forward-thinking family business run by husband-and-wife team Peter and Sally-ann Eather, and their daughter Divinia, who is the Marketing Manager.

Eather Group is based in Llandilo near Penrith – a region with a spirit of adventure and possibility. A place where businesses are inspired to look towards the future; to think outside the box for solutions and prosperity. A place with plenty of wide, open spaces for a growing fleet of heavy vehicles to run around in.

“We started out in 2010 with an old pink Ready-mix truck. We had to paint it white to get a driver in it!” laughs Sally-ann, reflecting on how far society has come – and how far Eather Group has come – in just 13 years. “Now we have 20 truck combinations and around 20 plant, including a brand-new Komatsu dozer from the factory floor.”

It’s what Eather Group does with that fleet that makes them interesting. These days, they act as a single point of contact for excavation, transporting, processing and disposal of waste materials from major construction projects.

“We’ve adopted a circular economy model,” explains Sally-ann. “We look for ways to reuse natural materials.”

This involves selectively excavating the material to avoid cross-contamination, stockpile management, then an internal process that can involve burning the natural materials in a kiln to determine their place in the next stage of their journey.

“It’s a recipe,” says Peter. “Our longest-term client is a brickworks, so it’s about understanding what materials they need, and the material’s properties.”

Making an impact

The amount of material salvaged for repurposing by Eather Group is staggering, and contributes significantly to a more sustainable housing industry.

Divinia reveals the tonnage salvaged in 13 years: “More than four million tonnes of material … which translates to approximately a quarter-of-a-million houses – houses built with more sustainable materials, which is really exciting,” she says, adding that the initiative earned the family the national Sustainable Development in Family Business Award by the Family Business Association.

“Our opportunity for impact has increased now we’ve taken over as head contractor for the earth works at Nepean Business Park (a 51 ha site undergoing rehabilitation). For all the material we’ve brought in, 100 per cent has been repurposed waste from projects in Sydney,” says Divinia.

The site will eventually establish Penrith as a hub for major industry and suppliers in the state.

Attracting and retaining people

As a company that is on track to create even more job opportunities for Sydney’s West, how does Eather Group overcome the obstacle of labour shortages in civil? How do they attract staff and, more importantly, retain them?

“I have a favourite saying – the obstacles aren’t in the way; the obstacles are the path,” says Sally-ann. “There is a cap on how much money we can offer our staff. So, we ask what else can we offer? We look at career pathways and other rewards. We look at what courses are on offer, what areas of learning they could benefit from for their continued improvement, what they’re interested in, and then consult with them.”

While Eather Group is open to apprenticeships, continuous professional development is proving a perfect fit for their workforce. The company has sent team members through ICI’s civil-specific Learning Courses, with positive feedback. “They’ve really enjoyed it,” says Sally-ann. “The four-hour sessions are doable. Even if you walk away with one thing you can implement, you’re winning.”

She adds that the flexibility of ICI’s course delivery means wet spells are not time wasted. “Weather has a huge impact on this industry. Although our site is all-weather, that doesn’t mean the source sites are.”

Eather Group is yet to taste all streams of the ICI Learning Courses – Technical, People Management and Business Management – but the Leadership suite is currently of interest.

“We have an operator who is showing leadership potential, so we’re bringing him on as an ICI member. The ‘bite-sized chunks’ of upskilling will be ideal to introduce him to leadership.”

Diversity in their DNA

As Eather Group states on their website, “Our team is important to us personally and as an asset to the company. We know that the workforce of the future is diverse, and we pride ourselves on the eclectic mix of people who make up Eather Group.”

They boast enviable diversity stats to back these statements up, including a 39% Indigenous and 33% female workforce. Sally-ann herself is making waves as a woman in industry, recently receiving the Road Freight NSW Transport Woman of the Year Award. She is involved with the Civil Contractors Federation NSW’s Women in Civil Program, stepping up this year from Mentee to Mentor. “I believe that to enable growth, one must step into the uncomfortable,” she says.

Then there is Peter’s Indigenous background, which feeds into much of the company’s philosophy and way of operating to “reflect the traditional Indigenous trading economy”. Eather Group mentors and supports Indigenous businesses and community, and sponsors local events and clubs, including their beloved Penrith Panthers.

The company’s focus on workforce equity, diversity and caring for country have created an outstanding company culture. ICI is proud to be partnering with Eather Group, who are one of an increasing number of civil employers minimising their risk, investing in staff career development and gaining a competitive advantage through the ICI Learning Program.

To learn more about what ICI can do for your business, visit iciaustralia.com or call 1300 424 287.

Find out more about Eather at www.eathergroup.com.au