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As one of Australia's fastest-growing construction firms, É«¿Ø´«Ã½ is excited to announce the launch of its new Trade Partner Engagement Framework. 

Designed to build and manage a pool of preferred Trade Partners, the multimillion-dollar investment will include the development of systematic processes, policies, and tools for the identification, pre-qualification, onboarding, progress tracking, and development of Trade Partners. 

É«¿Ø´«Ã½’s Trade Partner Engagement Framework is a first for the Victorian construction industry – it expands on the company's $2 million staff training program and will see Trade Partners receive specialist training and support to boost productivity, improve delivery standards and streamline processes.

The Trade Partner Engagement Framework consists of 4 elements:

1) Assessing & Onboarding,
2) Fostering Relationships,
3) Collaboration and
4) Integration & Improvement.

Through the initiative, É«¿Ø´«Ã½ aims to grow and retain its trade partner   pool over the next 12 months, despite national estimates that 50 per cent of construction trades[1] are experiencing an occupation shortage. É«¿Ø´«Ã½ Director, David Caputo, says the ambitious program was created to combat the ongoing skills gap affecting the industry at large.

The key objectives of the Engagement Framework are:

•    Relationship building – be in it together
•    Quality assurance and risk reduction
•    Efficiency improvement and increased productivity

“Trade Partners are essential to the construction industry, providing the flexibility and critical skills to deliver high-quality project outcomes,” said Caputo. “Construction companies have invested in upskilling internal talent to retain staff and mitigate skill shortages; however, Trade Partners have often been left behind simply because they operate independently.”

He added, “É«¿Ø´«Ã½'s Trade Partner Engagement Framework will ensure Trade Partners receive the same level of training and support as our internal teams, helping to improve quality, efficiency, and overall industry standards.” 

An initial rollout of the Trade Partner Engagement Framework will commence in March 2025 to existing Trade Partners of É«¿Ø´«Ã½, including a purpose build Trade Partner Platform in coming weeks. Skill gaps will be identified through pre-qualification modules in the onboarding phase, with targeted learning materials supplied to Trade Partners to support improvement plans.

"Through identifying skill shortages amongst our Trade Partners from the outset, we can allocate additional investment into upskilling our existing pool of tradespeople or commence identifying new trade partners that can enter into our pool.” É«¿Ø´«Ã½ Director, Andrew Deveson.

Deveson continued, "This allows us to resource projects accordingly and foster relationships with new and existing Trade Partners early, ensuring any skill gaps are identified before a project commences. This will allow us to reduce time wastage and improve efficiency amongst our entire workforce,".

"In a time where skills shortages can lead to project disruptions and reduced output, prioritising the training and development of Trade Partners will ensure they remain engaged, skilled, and capable of meeting the evolving demands of the sector," Caputo added.

The Trade Partner Engagement Framework represents É«¿Ø´«Ã½’s continued investment in improving the construction industry for a better life by prioritising training, collaboration, and long-term partnerships.   

If you have any questions or feedback regarding the new Trade Partner Framework, contact Santina Doucas, Trade Partner Relationship Manager, TPRM@kapitolgroup.com.au.

[1] Jobs and Skills Australia (2025), states 50 per cent of occupations within the "Technicians and Trades Workers" category, including all construction trades worker roles, are currently experiencing national shortages in Australia

Download the Trade Partner Engagement Framework