We're speaking with Katie Jones from MBC Group .

Can you tell me a bit about your background and what led you to work for MBC Group?

I relocated to Australia in 2005 after living in England. Starting my career anew was a challenge, even with all my experience, it did not guarantee success. I began with general admin work and eventually rose to Office Management. My expertise spans various industries, from manufacturing to federal government and private enterprise. However, I favour working with small to medium-scale businesses. Before joining MBC Group, I worked for a Water Engineering firm.

In 2015, I took a break from the corporate world to pursue my passion for food and cooking. I completed a Diploma in Commercial Cookery to gain the necessary skills. When I decided to return to the corporate world, I found a role at MBC Group that was a good fit for my skills and the location was appealing. Although I had been out of the corporate world for four years, I deliberately took a less senior role than my last position at the Water Engineering firm to ensure I hadn't lost any knowledge and to brush up on my skills. I was excited at the prospect because the role provided room for advancement. At the time I joined, MBC was a small business with about ten staff, and I had one or two direct reports, making for a smooth transition back into the workforce in 2019.

During this period, MBC Group was working towards extending its ISO accreditation to be an Integrated Management System, which presented an interesting and challenging time. As someone with prior knowledge of certification due to my previous experience in government jobs and business governance, I was able to help with gaining the extended accreditation. A lot of people may not know that having knowledge of business management opens up opportunities in different industries, such as building certification. Having a grasp of the business model beyond certification is what caught my interest in MBC Group.

I was drawn to the company's vision and values at the interview. They prioritise not only the industry but also the well-being of their staff and their company culture. Their values were not just words on a wall. I found the company's growth and the potential for my career to advance into a senior role and contribute to the bigger picture very appealing.

Can you explain what your current role involves?

At the moment, I am responsible for managing people and culture and business operations. Our organisation is undergoing an internal restructuring due to recent growth and an influx of new staff. As a result, I have taken on the role of overseeing business operations and ensuring a smooth integration process to keep things moving forward.

An emphasis on people and culture has emerged due to the necessity of prioritising our staff and marketing ourselves as an attractive employer.

In order to effectively reach our target audience, it's not enough to simply post a job advertisement and hope for the best. We must highlight the growth and values of our organisation, as well as the work-life balance we strive to provide, which aligns with what was showcased when I first joined MBC Group. These are areas we are currently focusing on developing further.

I find this aspect of my job exciting as it presents me with a new challenge. That's why I believe the umbrella over Operations and the People and Culture element fits perfectly. My position as the Head of Operations involves working closely with the Managing Director to establish the company's structure and ensure all internal processes are streamlined.

Tell us a bit more about MBC Group’s company culture, specifically regarding support for women in their careers.

In my opinion, the culture at MBC GROUP is very united. We operate on a level playing field with a flat management structure. Individuals need not be concerned about who they communicate with, whether it be our administration support officer or Managing Director. We all collaborate effectively, especially when we are deep in the trenches.

Our busiest day is Friday due to the deadlines typical of certification, but our culture is so supportive that individuals do not hesitate to ask for help. I appreciate this culture because it allows us to work hard and play hard. Our employees are generously rewarded during their downtime. We work as a team, and we know we are all in it together.

We hire people based on our core values: respectful, grounded, dedicated, united and relatable. These values form the foundation of our culture. Our company culture cultivates a shared sense of purpose and ensures that everyone is working towards the same goal. Our emphasis on accountability promotes inclusivity throughout the business.

During the Covid pandemic, we were considered essential workers and fortunate enough to continue working in the office with social distancing measures. Despite being based in three different geographical locations, we prioritised collaboration and utilised technology to stay ‘united’.

It can be difficult to distinguish the level of support for women versus men, as we work so hard at equality for all.

For example, to support everyone’s well-being, we have an internal mental health advocate. We recognised the demanding nature of our work and long hours, which can lead to stress and overwork. We want our colleagues to feel comfortable seeking help when needed, so we made sure that everyone has access to this resource.

To fill the role of someone who is passionate, capable, and empathetic, we opted to identify an internal candidate. This approach was chosen to provide a more personal touch rather than seeking an external consultant. Fortunately, this individual was eager to take on the responsibility and is currently undergoing training while receiving external support. Overall, this initiative has been highly beneficial in supporting our staff this year. Our Managing Director is also a strong advocate for RU OK Day, and we wanted to bring this ethos in-house.

As part of our onboarding process, we introduced a buddy system at MBC Group. Each person has an informal buddy who can answer any questions a newcomer may have. Our scheme has improved staff retention and created a comfortable work environment. We proactively stay in touch with our staff through informal check-ins to provide them with ample support. We assist our staff with their pathway to success, as often the cause of their questions stems from a lack of understanding of our internal processes. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that no one fails.

One of the most significant advancements for women in the workplace is the ability to request to go to on-site inspections or attend conferences. Women may not always feel that it is their responsibility to be involved in these activities, but they should have the opportunity to do so. I have attended Women in Business Management conferences and networking events that benefit the business as a whole, even if they are not directly related to our work. Women should not have to call attention to their gender to be offered these opportunities; they should be available to everyone regardless of their identity.

I noticed that MBC Group is linked with NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction). Is anyone from MBC Group a member of this organisation?

Around two years ago, I introduced NAWIC membership; since then, we have had a few women join. However, women often face the challenge of changing life priorities when deciding to have a family, resulting in a high turnover rate in the workplace. This is not uncommon, as I experienced this myself when I had a child and quit to become a chef. Maintaining continuity in a career can be challenging for women who have worked part-time or full-time.

Although NAWIC provides a lot of information and support, it would be beneficial to have a section on its website that highlights the building certification industry, its functions, and the career opportunities available for women. Certification has many roles open to women, including inspection, approvals, and consultancy, so there is a lot of opportunity.

What are some of the other career opportunities available for women with MBC Group?

At MBC Group, women can choose from various roles. We are growing at a rapid pace. Initially, we had only ten employees, but we now have 32, which means more opportunities and positions are available due to our growth. Our coverage in the building industry is becoming more diverse. In addition to Certification, we provide consultancy offerings such as BCA Consulting, Access or Fire Consulting, and we’ve employed a team of experts in those fields. Our support team supports both the Certification and Consultancy streams and covers HR, Sales, Marketing, and Finance, so we require a diverse range of people with various skill sets.

Our company provides part-time roles that are often sought after by women returning to the workforce. As the business expands, opportunities become boundless. We aim to become a magnetic employer by showcasing our company to potential employees. We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds, as we offer a wide range of roles that require varying skill sets. Previous experience in the construction industry is not always necessary.

Job seekers seek a good culture fit. Although we often work remotely, having a supportive culture in the office is extremely important to people now. We organise events for team building and personal development training, including a recent resilience training for the entire office. These events occur every six weeks, and we mix up the groups to allow people to meet new colleagues from different teams, building that inter-office culture.

Lastly, would you be willing to share a few words about your experience with Visual Approvals software and if it has helped streamline the certification process, could you tell us how.

Certification is a very niche business, and there is a great amount of governance and legislation to ensure that everything is compliant; it is amazing what Visual Approvals has built into the program to accommodate these requirements. VA has risk mitigation checks but also the flexibility to be customised for what we need as a business. Visual Approvals have helped us streamline the certification process and the workflow for the processes that support the certification team. We cannot fault it.