It was 2020 and 31-year-old Joey Nicol, a site supervisor in Newcastle, NSW, was on the precipice of a big change. A trained carpenter and licensed builder, he’d had a broad introduction to the industry, learning the ropes on a range of residential and commercial projects for different companies. But he always knew he wanted to go out on his own, and with building booming in the region, it seemed like the time to try.

As fate would have it, good friend Miles Wilson had similar aspirations. The pair had gone through high school together in Port Stephens and kept in touch. Miles’ path had been a little different, he had taken on a variety of industry roles, and worked in oil and gas for a while before challenging himself by undertaking a construction management degree. 

‘I always saw myself working in residential building,’ he says. ‘I had worked abroad for a time and when I returned, Joey got me a job with a local builder. Soon after, we both decided that starting our own business was something we wanted to pursue.’

The duo launched East Elevation Construction in September 2020 – a brave move considering Australia was in the middle of a global pandemic. Joey says that despite people’s movements and supply chains being severely impacted, it wasn’t a deterrent; the timing in fact was rather advantageous.

‘With the HomeBuilder government rebate, especially for renovations, we were able to take on projects that other builders were too busy for,’ he explains. ‘The materials issues and price increases didn’t have as big of an effect because our turnaround time from when we signed a contract to starting was quick.’

Their first year was a busy one establishing business processes, securing jobs in the Maitland and Newcastle area, and growing a team that aligned with their vision and values. Who took care of what naturally developed according to each of their skillsets and interests; Miles focused on estimating, administration and project management, while Joey spent more time onsite, overseeing the progression of their jobs. Renovations soon turned into new home and custom builds as they gradually expanded their portfolio. 

‘We both always have a handle on all aspects of our projects,’ Miles explains. ‘If there’s one person who needs to step away, the other can slot right in…But there’s also a quality of work that we expect. We’ve acknowledged that we can’t take on too much because attention to detail is something we never want to let go of.’

As directors of the company, they both also prefer to handle sales and client management as a team so they can ensure a high level of customer service. ‘We share the one email so we both know about each job and what’s going on at any one time,’ Joey says. ‘Our clients can phone to reach either of us; they seem to be responding well to that direct contact.

They’ve also benefited from the support of HIA Apprentices, which identified and helped to manage several new apprentices over the past two years. Currently, they have three, with the fourth signing off just before Christmas.

‘The apprentices team are great to deal with and only provide candidates they think will suit our company,’ Joey says. ‘They take care of a lot of the admin side of hosting an apprentice…and we know that if work ever slowed down, then HIA can find them a different placement for a time – which was the case with my own apprenticeship. They can continue progressing, which is a huge weight off our shoulders.’ 

A former HIA Apprentice, Joey knew the benefits of being a HIA member for residential builders and signed them up straight away. Access to HIA Contracts Online, legal advice and industry updates (particularly related to COVID and the NCC) he believes was ‘priceless, especially in the early stages of the business’.

It’s still early days for East Elevation Construction but the business is already achieving some lofty goals. Joey and Miles were aiming to get into multi-residential developments, and they have a few on the go now – a testament to their dedication to quality workmanship, sound business management and customer service. 

These qualities were also recently acknowledged at the HIA-CSR Hunter Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards, with East Elevation Construction taking out the 2022 HIA Hunter Renovation/Addition Project ($500,001-$750,000) for a stunning heritage restoration and modern extension. One of their apprentices, Lachlan Condie, was also presented with the 2022 HIA Hunter Apprentice of the Year award.

Miles says they’re proud of what their hard work has achieved so far in an industry they love and are grateful for the support of HIA along the way. ‘Starting a new business is a daunting task,’ he says. ‘There are any number of pitfalls, especially as a builder. So, having HIA in our corner gave us the confidence we needed to grow our business.’ 

Strong on safety

East Elevation Construction directors, Joey Nicol and Miles Wilson say bringing in an external safety consultant to organise toolbox talks, update safe work method statements and conduct site specific risk assessments has been a great benefit for establishing a safety culture within their young business.

‘Safety is our number one priority,’ Miles says. ‘We have toolbox talks onsite prior to a job starting and then every month or so after that. We constantly reinforce with the guys to raise any concerns if they have them.’

Their team is a mix of apprentices, qualified trades and a site supervisor – all with varying levels of experience. Joey says their consultant has a relatable approach that is resonating with everyone. ‘She doesn’t come with the big thick booklet that no one’s ever going to read, she makes it practical for the things that we deal with day to day.’

He adds he has seen that when safety is not forced upon workers, they engage more. ‘When anyone suggests a positive change, we put it into action. They feel they’re being heard, and we are taking it seriously, which is very important.’
www.east-elevation.com.au 

First published on 6 March 2023