Opportunity

I have always been proud of our company’s proposal to anyone starting a job at Bowens “… if you do your job well, you have a solid future with us”. I particularly emphasize that to young employees – let’s say in the 17-24 age bracket. I don’t often get around our branches these days but when I do meet new staff I say four things: 1) Turn up on time 2) Acknowledge the customer 3) Be respectful to fellow staff/customers 4) Learn something new every day.

“I have always been proud of our company’s proposal to anyone starting a job at Bowens ‘… if you do your job well, you have a solid future with us’.”

I also repeat the fact that 90% of our current branch managers “started where you are today” — ie on the hardware sales floor and/or in the Timber Yard. If you follow my four basic points together with some common sense, you can progress if you want to. I say if you “want to” because I don’t find it unusual when people say they really like their job but have no wish to take up more responsible positions in the company. Being given that chance though is important for all our staff – and for the company.

The media at the moment is full of bad news when it comes to our youth — communities in Melbourne are rightfully concerned about the safety of their property, the safety of their own family members. The Herald Sun reported recently that crimes committed by 18-24 year olds were up 15% with crimes by children under 15 rose to highest levels since 1993. My wife and I experienced a home invasion a couple of years ago by four young individuals entering our property with the intention of stealing a car — coming into our home looking for the car keys.

I don’t think (as much as I’d like to) that it is my place, nor our Builders Bulletin role, to delve into the cause of this increase in youth crime. Our Bowens and Timbertruss facilities have been created to provide a service to the built environment of Melbourne, Victoria and Queensland. Included in our wish to be the best at what we do is the creation of a workforce that is motivated, cared for and given the opportunity to enjoy what they do.

“Our Bowens and Timbertruss facilities have been created to provide a service to the built environment of Melbourne, Victoria and Queensland.”

I have googled a simple question relating to ‘opportunity’ — ‘What are the youth of Australia looking for.’ An AI search gave me: ‘Australian youth are increasingly concerned about the cost of living, climate change, violence and crime, and mental health, while also facing challenges related to employment, education, and financial stability.’

As an employer, my belief is that if we can contribute to employment, education and providing financial stability, we can then collectively, as a community, address some of these concerning issues.

John Bowen and I will soon be involved in staff induction sessions — an insight from us as to what Bowens is all about. The beneficences are newly employed members of our team. We have conducted hundreds of those sessions but I never tire of the opportunity to have a conversation about what I, and John, believe in — including a big emphasis on the creation of a workplace environment that is welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable. Having worked as a ‘yardie’ myself in the old style timber yard of the early 1960’s I reflect how physically hard a day’s work could be. The timber & hardware workforce of today is a far cry from the sixties when OH&S was pretty well non-existent and under cover storage and clean floors were just not part of the scene.

A big part of creating an excellent workplace environment is about safety and where possible, making each job easier. To recruit more young men and women into the Building Supply Industry, and encourage an overall positive attitude to work is very much the responsibility of management, senior staff and supervisors.

A particular initiative that Bowens have pioneered is the encouragement of women to become involved in an industry that historically was very much male dominated. Males still make-up the bulk of our workforce but women have now found a place in our stores away from administration only jobs.

Our ‘Women In Trade’ event is held every two years with our next event being held on the 28th of March. I’m writing this article prior to that day but I understand we are expecting at least 500 attendees. Again the word opportunity comes to mind — the opportunity for women to feel connected, supported and empowered in an industry that needs to become less ‘blokey’, less aggressive and more diverse and inclusive.

“The opportunity for women to feel connected, supported and empowered in an industry that needs to become less ‘blokey’, less aggressive and more diverse and inclusive.” 

Our previous event in 2023 Monique Burns, Senior Legal Counsel and Legal Manager at the Master Builders Association of Victoria referred to the day as “a celebration of how far we have come and an invitation to those around us to keep striving to be better, to go higher, to be bold and to be brave!”

That message, while specifically directed towards more ‘Women in Trade’ is also a message that is equally effective in addressing the youth of today, both men and women, who are struggling to find their place in the workforce, let alone in the community and the world at large.

If we are going to play a sensible part in any debate on youth issues, we should firstly get our own house in order. One can’t escape the need we all have for a job — not just to sustain our lifestyle and our need for food and lodging, but to give us some purpose in our lives.

I want Bowens to foster an environment that leads to PURPOSE in the life of all our young people. Recently, John Bowen interviewed a long term staff member who prior to starting at Bowens had a serious work related accident that resulted in a brain haemorrhage. He felt disconnected from most forms of activity and certainly felt his chances of working again were slim. However, he applied for a job at Bowens and got that job. Now, many years later, he’s forever thankful for that OPPORTUNITY to work and “the purpose it gave me” to be in the workplace once again.

No doubt that in the 136 year history of Bowens there are plenty of staff who might tell a different story about their experience at Bowens; but I can assure all that from my grandfather Richard who started this journey, through to my Dad and I, and now John and Andy plus my brother David — the intention has always been to provide a safe work place and the opportunity to both enjoy the jobs at hand and foster excellent performance and personal satisfaction.