The August 2024 Brisbane Industry Roundtable gathered industry leaders to discuss the pressing challenges and opportunities in contractor management today. With a strong focus on collaboration, compliance, and technology integration, the discussions provided insight on driving productivity and fostering innovation across the sector.

Key themes and insights:

1. Enhancing contractor collaboration and productivity

The roundtable commenced with a discussion on the crucial role of collaboration between contractors and organisations. The consensus was that “the success of contractors directly influences overall organisational performance”. Having the right mindset at all levels of an organisation is critical.

One participant noted that “Our collective achievements hinge on strong relationships and open communication with contractors—this is key to achieving our shared goals.”

2. Challenges in contractor management and compliance

Managing contractors remains a complex challenge, particularly regarding identity verification, access control, and competency assessments. Several attendees who weren’t using MyPass were concerned that their contractors would be non-compliant under their existing ‘trust but verify’ approach. Participants called for more streamlined processes to reduce administrative burdens and improve the accuracy of contractor-related data.

A recurring sentiment was the necessity of “efficient systems that ease the management of contractor compliance, allowing for a smoother operational flow.”  This starts with effective resource planning, and ends with the ‘right contractors with the right skills’ on the job. 

3. The role of data and technology integration

A central theme was the need for an integrated, end-to-end systems approach to contractor management. Participants agreed that MyPass’s single source of truth—a centralised data repository—would significantly reduce process redundancies and enhance decision-making. Citing a study by the University of WA on the benefits of MyPass, it was noted that organisations could eliminate up to 70% of process steps by reducing manual data entry and spreadsheet updates.

The discussion highlighted that “embracing technology and data integration is not just a trend but a necessity for simplification and standardisation across our industry.”

4. Training and competency development

Another focal point was the importance of clearly defining competency for various roles. It is a challenge for contractors to navigate various requirements across the sites at which they deploy workers.  Leveraging existing industry standardisation such as Safer Together’s ‘common industry competencies’ is a good starting point. 

The conversation stressed that robust training programs and onboarding processes are vital for preparing workers to meet industry demands. Participants also emphasised the need for accessible reference materials to guide staff through complex systems. “There’s a pressing need to enhance our training and onboarding programs to equip our workforce with the skills required to succeed,” one attendee said. This starts with simple objectives such as ensuring workers know who their supervisor is and are familiarised with their work environment.  

5. Addressing industry challenges and preparing for the future

The roundtable acknowledged the external pressures facing the industry, from economic fluctuations to regulatory changes. Skill shortages for critical roles such as E&I technicians were a particular concern, a challenge that is exacerbated by poor resource planning from sites, duplication of workforce buffers, and workers who ‘jump ship’ for a financial incentive. 

Participants agreed that “working together as an industry will be key to overcoming the challenges we face, particularly in addressing the ongoing skill shortages.”  UGL shared how they were applying best-practice through the use of MyPass to proactively grow and nurture their worker pools.  This was having a positive impact on their workforce retention and the ability to mobilise workers at short notice. 

6. Commitment to continuous improvement

Finally, the importance of gathering feedback from contractors and a commitment to continuous improvement were emphasised. Participants encouraged sharing experiences and learnings to foster a culture of innovation and improvement, ultimately benefiting all stakeholders involved.

The roundtable concluded with a call to action: 

We must remain committed to continuous improvement, always seeking ways to enhance our processes and systems to stay ahead in this evolving industry.

Processes and systems to keep people safe are not proprietary - coming together regularly as an industry is key to our collective success.

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The Brisbane Industry Roundtable provided a platform for meaningful dialogue on the future of contractor management. By focusing on collaboration, compliance, and technology integration, the industry can better prepare for the challenges ahead and seize new opportunities for growth and productivity.

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