“I knew that many financial planners, while excellent at their craft, sought support and ideas in how to run their business better and provide better outcomes for their families, clients and staff.” – Sue Viskovic, Managing Director.

In 2007 Sue Viskovic established her own consulting and business coaching service for self-employed financial planners, immediately winning clients under contract to her former employer. Elixir Consulting gained a solid reputation for its coaching results as clients achieved an average of at least 30 per cent growth during the Global Financial Crisis. But it was Sue’s foresight on issues facing the industry that drove further success. In 2009 she released a research report into financial adviser pricing models and Elixir created a reputation as experts in creating fee-based advice models. This was timely as the government announced a ban on commissions for financial advice in 2010, this meant all financial planners were required to adopt fee-based pricing. A book titled “Pricing Advice”, an associated online program and adding self-employed consultants in the eastern States are all delivering further growth for the Perth-based business.

“I have been working towards having powdercoating and surface finishing modules approved for apprenticeship courses by the Western Australian Parliament. – Rosie Harper, Owner.

When Rosie Harper purchased an existing business, One Coat Powdercoat, in 2008 she quickly faced a tax audit, workplace audit by Worksafe and debts left by the previous owner. Successfully putting those issues behind her, Rosie implemented new induction and safety procedures and office efficiencies. Then she set about marketing for new clients. The business offers sandblasting and powder coating services – in powder coating, coloured powder is applied with an electrostatic spray gun and heated to temperature for finishing, avoiding brush strokes. Rosie said her business meets strict industry standards and offers speedy turnaround, top customer service, competitive pricing and a choice of 140 colours. One Coat Powdercoat has tripled its clientele with the Picton-based business attracting regular contracts from locals such as Bunbury Security Screen Specialists. The business is currently experimenting with new colour products from the US and plans to expand its range.

“One of our biggest achievements was creating a start-up company able to compete with multi-national companies in its first year.” – Stephen Inouye, Managing Director.

New national security legislation requiring background checks on people working on offshore oil and gas facilities and at major Australian ports led Stephen Inouye to establish Veritas Engineering in 2006. Gaining Commonwealth approval to be a provider of Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC) processing and management services, Stephen quickly gained Woodside Energy as a client on a multi-year contract. The Perth business recognised the need for a nationwide infrastructure and established a strategic partnership with Australia Post for processing MSIC cards at 3000 retail outlets. Today Veritas Engineering provides MSIC services to more than 200 Australian organisations and 12 overseas clients – maintaining 15 per cent of national market share. The business is part of the Veritas Engineering Group – a project and engineering consultancy which services the defence, maritime, financial services, telecommunications and resources industries. Stephen said Veritas Engineering uses its engineering prowess and technology to address the operational challenges of its clients.

“Worklife balance was a key motivator for starting the business – I want to be a role model for worklife balance to my staff, students and other businesses.” – Tracy Teo, Director.

Launched in 2003, Australia-International Institute of Workplace Training (AIWT) is a registered training organisation in business management, OHS, education and childcare. Its courses are delivered at Malaga and Riverton campuses, onsite at clients’ premises and online. Director Tracy Teo said AIWT consults to businesses looking to maximise the potential of their people and get an optimal return on investment in staff training and employee development programs. One of the first organisations to offer online courses in Perth, AIWT uses a customised e-learning system to students around the world and in remote locations. AIWT employs 10 full time equivalent staff and its annual graduate numbers have grown from 16 to 458. Tracy said AIWT’s international student market is growing and represents excellent potential for the business. She is working to secure new business in the oil and gas industry and to establish more partnerships with schools, businesses and institutions within WA and overseas.

“Our objective is to be regarded as the automatic provider of choice for gourmet biscuits and slices by all hotels and caterers in Perth.” – Graham Baker, Proprietor.

In the six years they’ve owned gourmet biscuits and slices business For The Coffee Table, Graham and Carol Baker have expanded sales each year. Focusing on producing the highest quality products, without using artificial flavours and preservatives, For The Coffee Table has secured the business of every major hotel in Perth. Graham said the Floreat-based manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer has added a line of gluten free products for coeliacs and the general public to its product range. Staff numbers have risen from 8 to 14 and the business has improved its branding and packaging. For The Coffee Table is increasing hits to its website and plans to introduce e-purchasing among other marketing initiatives. This follows its success in advertising its gourmet fruit mince pies and tarts brand last Christmas, selling through selected supermarkets which attracted new customers.

"My operations have struck a balance between generations and I hope to influence a change of perception about energetic GenYs in the hospitality industry.” – Anthony Janssen, Director.

Anthony Janssen was 23 and employed as head chef in a failing business at the Margaret River beachside location of Gnarabup. He got the go-ahead from the owners to keep the business alive, and with funding borrowed from his sister turned his vision into a niche bar and restaurant network. Anthony drew on friends aged between 17 and 20 to undertake renovations and create an environment that has become a popular meeting place for locals and tourists, turning over almost $1 million in the first year. The business called Gnarabar now has two locations and an outdoor catering business. In 2009, Anthony won council approval for a long-term lease on a café at one of the most sought after locations in WA’s South-West. The newly-named White Elephant Beach Café is proving that anything is possible with passion, drive and determination. Recently Anthony was appointed to the board of the Augusta-Margaret River Tourist Association.

“Maintaining positive cash flow is critical but closer to my heart and far more rewarding are the non-financial successes.” – Nicolle Jenkins, Managing Director.

Soon after Nicolle Jenkins established The Hub Marketing Communications in 2005 she sensed that business attitudes towards marketing were changing. Nicolle said businesses wanted uncomplicated service, personalisation and the value a smaller firm delivers. This was perfect for The Hub, she said, because the closer her business was with clients, the more it delivered. After six years the Perth-based business employs seven people and has a client base of 26 across Australia. The Hub offers expertise in marketing, communications, graphic design, market research and training and has maintained its core clients since 2006 with 80 per cent of new business coming from recommendations. Nicolle said The Hub has worked since 2007 with numerous Indigenous businesses and in January 2011 the business launched a dedicated business unit focusing on Indigenous communications services. It recently won a Federal tender for a three year national communications campaign on Indigenous ear health.

“Nara continues to expand by attaining new clients through recommendations from its many satisfied clients.” – Joe Reither, Director.

Twenty years in the construction industry led to Joe Reither believing there was a gap in the market for quality training delivered flexibly for companies of all sizes. In 1997 Joe and his wife Kaye established the registered training organisation Nara Training & Assessing. The one-time home-based business set up an office and training facility in Bunbury offering short courses and traineeships for clients ranging from large mining companies BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to small businesses throughout WA. Nara’s specialities include high risk worksafe training that extends from construction and rail to forestry and traffic management. Joe said Nara’s growth into a two million dollar business with fourteen staff offering 55 courses has resulted from many referrals it received from clients satisfied with its customer service and training. Nara has expertise in training shift workers, fly in-fly out workers and those in remote locations and with literacy difficulties.

“The key to RePipe’s success is our highly differentiated service combined with our commitment to delivering what we promise.” – Jaqueline Outram, CEO.

Within three years of operation, RePipe has become recognised as the smart alternative for replacing underground pipes by using technologies that eliminates up to 95 per cent of the excavation normally required. Co-founders Jaqueline Outram and Scott Baggs have built RePipe into a fast growing business in a market which is subject to multiple audits and reviews. Identifying an opportunity to deliver a better way of replacing the world’s ageing and inadequate underground pipes, RePipe secured the exclusive rights to a range of patented technologies. These allowed for the replacement and upsizing of pipes through ‘keyholes’, coupled with advanced risk management systems. These two interdependent solutions have removed substantial safety risks, traffic delays, noise, property damage and environmental impacts. The company also gained a point of differentiation by being a specialist across multiple customer segments, while most competitors offer a broad range of civil construction services to one or two.

“We attribute our success to the quality of our consulting staff, our experience in the resources sector and our focus on providing high level customer service.” - Sandy Dunn, Director.

After leaving a senior management role in the engineering sector in 2000, Sandy Dunn started his own company. Assetivity is a consultancy specialising in maintenance, operations and asset management that has grown on average at more than 50 per cent each year. The South Perth business provides services for many of Australia's leading mining, mineral processing, oil and gas companies and utilities. Initially focusing on maintenance management improvement, Assetivity has expanded to asset management services for utilities, government and infrastructure clients. Starting in WA, the business established a Brisbane office in 2007. Sandy says the company’s mix of engineering, financial and management skills helps bridge the gap between silos that can exist within most resources and infrastructure companies. Assetivity is a participant in Austrade's New Exporter Development program and has been awarded Rio Tinto Iron Ore's Supplier Recognition Award in the category of Professional Services for the past two years.

“We want to be recognised for our standards of safety and customer service and be a benchmark for the industry.”- Paul Newbound, Director.

Director Paul Newbound established Australian Pressure Testing Services (APTS) in 2003 after identifying a gap in the resources and infrastructure markets for pressure testing services. APTS provides onsite and workshop services in water and air pressure testing of pipes, valves, fittings and vessels for the construction, resources and oil and gas industries. Starting as a one-man consultancy, Paul recognised that, to succeed, the business would need to go above and beyond client expectations. Paul said APTS aims to improve safety and customer satisfaction levels throughout the industry. APTS also has a state-of-the-art National Association of Testing Authorities accredited laboratory which provides quality calibration and repairs for pressure and temperature instrumentation. APTS has more than 150 employees and has continued to secure significant industry projects such as Pilbara’s Burrup Fertiliser project and the Otway gas plant in Victoria. In 2010, APTS won all the testing contracts for WA’s Pluto LNG and the Binningup desalination project.

“With government incentives and increasing power costs, Solar PV remains an attractive option for businesses and individuals who want to reduce both their carbon footprint and their electricity costs.”- Kieron D’Arcy, CEO.

From its origins in a family garage in 2007, renewable energy provider UnLtd Energy Group has won some of the biggest solar contracts in Western Australia, including Murdoch University in 2008 –the installation was Perth’s largest solar power grid connection at the time. Now with 35 staff, the Landsdale-based business has grown its annual turnover to $25 million in just four years while extending its operations from Perth to five regional centres. CEO Kieron D’Arcy said UnLtd Energy’s key division, Unltd Solar, is predominantly a provider of solar PV to the residential market in WA, sourcing from the world’s leading solar technologies including panels and inverters. With partnerships in place to drive its renewable energy business in the commercial sector, UnLtd Energy has ambitions to become a leading integrated sustainable energy company with a national footprint. This year Unltd Energy Group was recognised in the top 20 of BRW’s Fast Starter 2011 list.

“Our products are not off the shelf items – we design to specific requirements in the mining, oil and gas and railway industries.” – Les Capelli, Managing Director.

Vector Lifting is a major supplier of sophisticated lifting and railway maintenance equipment with the three biggest iron ore miners in the Pilbara and railway corporations across Australia and Japan among its clients. Established in 1989 by Managing Director Les Capelli, Vector Lifting has completed high profile design and construction train lifting systems at Westall in Melbourne, Dry Creek in Adelaide and in Taiwan. Vector Lifting is the trading name for Nichol Bay Holdings, a family-owned company led by Managing Director Les Capelli and his son Clinton – a mechanical engineer. The company also includes Scenna Constructions, a specialist in structural steel fabrication for mining and commercial buildings. Projects include designing and constructing the opening roof system for the indoor sports and entertainment venue Perth Arena. With 43 full time equivalent staff and turnover growth exceeding industry average, the business has also completed projects in China, Indonesia and the Middle East.

“The APTS Testracker provides the company with a competitive edge over other testing providers and has proved invaluable in increasing efficiencies.” – Paul Newbound, Director.

Founded in 2003, Australian Pressure Testing Services (APTS) provides onsite and workshop services in water and air pressure testing of pipes, valves, fittings and vessels for the construction, resources and oil and gas industries. In 2007, the Henderson-based company introduced the APTS Test Packer, a new software program to compile and track testing activities. Developed over five years, the innovative management tool allows clients to track existing projects as they progress. The industry's awareness of the software has resulted in competitors requesting historical information about the testing status of worksites. Director Paul Newbound claims the software is yet to be replicated in Australia. The Henderson-based company has a state-of-the-art National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory which provides quality calibration and repairs for pressure and temperature instrumentation. In 2010, the business won all the testing contracts for Western Australia’s Pluto LNG and the Binningup desalination project.

“Introducing the fee-based pricing program has given us further credibility in the marketplace, increased speaking opportunities which spreads awareness of our brand and generated new revenue streams.” – Sue Viskovic, Managing Director.

When the government announced in 2010 it would introduce a ban on commissions for financial advice within two years, Elixir Consulting was well placed to assist financial planners to establish fee-based advice models. Managing Director Sue Viskovic, who established Elixir Consulting in 2007, said her business developed the industry’s first full suite of resources to assist advisers to transition to fee-based business models. While other competitors have stand-alone resources such as webinars or manuals, Elixir provides an end-to-end solution including business coaching to assist with implementation. Elixir’s total package includes a book “Pricing Advice,” a well-regarded 2009 research report that is being updated in 2011, and an online learning program with tools to implement the fee structure and the ability to benchmark pricing against other financial planners. Sue said Elixir’s business coaching program Prac-Nav is the only program accredited for structured continuing professional development (CPD) points by the Financial Planning Association.

"Given our zero-base starting position, we simply wouldn't have survived our entry into the competitive civil contracting industry unless we were completely differentiated from the rest of the market." – Jaqueline Outram, CEO.

While many in the Australian civil contracting industry rely on heavy machinery to upgrade underground pipelines, RePipe have introduced innovative technologies and a new service model to deliver the highest safety, environmental and quality standards. The company’s co- founders, Jaqueline Outram and Scott Baggs spent two years researching client requirements, identifying suitable technologies and developing a new service model prior to its launch. The patented technologies, which RePipe holds exclusive rights to, enable old or overburdened pipelines to be replaced and upsized through ‘keyholes’. The technologies eliminate 95 per cent of excavations and safety risks and minimise RePipe’s site footprint. Importantly, the technologies apply to all types and diameters of underground pipes enabling RePipe to scale its solutions to suit each specific project. All of RePipe's projects to date have been delivered on-time and on-budget and two have achieved finalist positions in the highly coveted Civil Contractors Federation Earth Awards.

“We have staff with the ability to adapt, design and structure our products to the individual client's requirements.”– Les Capelli, Managing Director.

Since establishing Vector Lifting in 1989, Les Capelli has built the company into a major international supplier of sophisticated railway lifting equipment and cranes. Working with the client, the company designs, manufactures and installs customised lifting solutions. It offers an extensive range of train lifting products for rail vehicle maintenance and handling and specialist crane products that are used in small workshops through to large LNG Storage Tanks. Vector Lifting, which has delivered projects in Australia, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, South America and the Middle East, developed and implemented its own Quality Management System to improve work practices such as health and safety issues for distribution and productivity. The business provides additional services through its sister company Scenna Constructions – a specialist in structural steel fabrication for mining and commercial buildings. Vector Lifting was behind the design of the opening roof system for the indoor sports and entertainment venue Perth Arena, while Scenna was responsible for its construction.

“As individuals, and as an organisation, we should be doing more to help those that are less fortunate than ourselves.”- Sandy Dunn, Director.

Established in 2000, Assetivity is a consultancy specialising in maintenance, operations and asset management and provides services for many of Australia's leading mining, mineral processing, oil and gas companies and utilities. Its skills in asset management have also been expanded to the Dreamfit Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation that applies innovative engineering solutions to help those with disabilities to lead more fulfilling and independent lives. This financial and in-kind assistance to Dreamfit is just one of the initiatives that the company has undertaken to give back to the community. As part of Assetivity’s policy, the business offers staff more than two days off work to volunteer in the community to assist the disadvantaged. In an effort to reduce its environmental footprint, Assetivity has introduced formal environmental responsibility practices including a recycling program for office waste, offering the opportunity to work from home, reducing the frequency of business travel and accepting carbon-offsets where available.

“Our social responsibility initiatives are closely linked to our employee culture. We have a moral and ethical obligation to ensure a future for our children as well as improve safety standards for our industry.” – Paul Newbound, Director.

Starting as a one-man consultancy in 2003, Australian Pressure Testing Services (APTS) provides water and air pressure testing of pipes, valves, fittings and vessels for the construction, resources and oil and gas industries. Director Paul Newbound said the National Association of Testing Authorities accredited business aims to improve safety and customer satisfaction levels throughout the industry. In an industry where workplace safety is crucial, APTS works with the industry to raise awareness about adequate pressure testing training. APTS sets and implements high safety and training standards for each of its test personnel. The business designed a software system that is used to track equipment maintenance and prevent accidents. The company’s environmental efforts include the recycling of its own testing equipment, including water, which is filtered, treated and reused for the testing of piping and vessels. APTS also supports a number of charities including Beyond Blue, Movember, Ronald McDonald House and SIDS.

“As we grow, so does our contribution to the community through key corporate social responsibility activities.” – Nicolle Jenkins, Managing Director.

Since Nicolle Jenkins established The Hub Marketing Communications in 2006, its contribution to the community has been a key focus of enacting the business’s core value of “making a difference.” Nicole said the community contribution was considered the most powerful personal development opportunity for the Hub’s seven-member team. In 2010-11 the Perth-based business co-created a charity event – the Honda Over The Top Expedition, a round-Australia fundraising event to raise awareness about preventing prostate cancer. The Hub is providing in-kind media and marketing services and fundraising itself for the event which will support research through the Cancer Council of Australia. Nicolle said The Hub’s community contribution has strengthened internal team cohesiveness and helped the team to be socially conscious human beings. Staff are involved in selecting initiatives that have included support for Surf Life Saving WA, Grow WA and StART Foundation and a carbon offset program on behalf of clients.

“Reducing the environmental impact of printer cartridges is one of the primary objectives of our business.” – Lisa Rodi, Director.

As a counter to the millions of printer cartridges that go into landfill every year, Quality Printer Cartridges remanufactures 120 different types of laser printer cartridges. Director Lisa Rodi said the business reduces the cost of replacement cartridges by reusing the shell of an original cartridge and replacing working components to ensure superior quality and reliability are maintained. For every order that contains a Premium Plus remanufactured cartridge, Quality Printer Cartridges plants a tree in WA on the client’s behalf. The business has doubled its staff to 10 since it launched in 2008 and hit its target of doubling turnover in the last full financial year. Quality Printer Cartridges also supplies new cartridges, sells new, refurbished and ex-demo printers, faxes and photocopiers and offers servicing and maintenance of all printing devices. It educates customers about investing in more efficient printers that use fewer cartridges and was recognised as an environmentally friendly business in 2010 at the Wanneroo Business Association Awards.

“If all you can offer your employees is cash, then all you will get is more expensive employees. RePipe uses what we call 'the value of pride' to attract, engage and retain outstanding people.” – Jaqueline Outram, CEO.

As with many civil contractors, RePipe has a strong focus on having specific procedures in place to ensure its activities cause no harm in terms of health, safety and the environment. RePipe employs ‘keyhole’ technologies - recognised by the United Nations Environment Program as environmentally sustainable - that eliminate up to 95 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions normally created through civil construction works. The company has gone even one step further and developed a secondary framework - Echo-NomicsTM - to ensure its activities deliver positive benefits for the wider community. Through the introduction of Echo-NomicsTM, the company has implemented procedures addressing work-life balance for employees, the allocation of resources to community-based tasks, the saving of numerous mature trees and the collection and disposal of unrelated litter. This has delivered significant benefits particularly for the employees, who are proud of the company they work for and the work they do on a daily basis.