Meet Neil – He Loves His Job

In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia by Great Place to Work, RCC has interviewed 10 employees who love their job. RCC is honoured to have such passionate employees who jumped at the opportunity to share what they do, and why they love it.

 

Meet Neil Coubrough. This year marks Neil’s 20th anniversary at RCC. With two decades at RCC and a career in construction under his belt, Neil’s seen the enormous growth and evolution the industry has experienced since well before 2000.

But despite an evolving industry, Neil says the culture and camaraderie at RCC has remained steady, and combined with the security his job offers him and his family, Neil says there’s very little reason why he wouldn’t love coming to work each day.

“I think the reason why I love working at RCC has a lot to do with the people and the culture. To me it’s not about the money, it’s about working with a team and a culture that you can genuinely relate to.”

At the turn of the century, when Neil’s RCC journey began, the company was undertaking its first multistage development at the Liberty Grove Residential Complex, ahead of the huge influx of visitors for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Over the next two decades, markets would fluctuate and RCC would take on more projects across various locations and sectors. But despite a growing team taking on larger and more complex projects, Neil says RCC values have remained consistent.

“We’re all one team and we’re all trying to work to the same goal. There’s been a lot of industry change over the last 20 years, but the RCC name and the quality of everyone working here has remained the same. You come to work with your friends. Everyone wants to be here and I think that’s great for the team and the project.”

After starting out as a Sub Foreman and progressing to Site Supervisor, Neil now works within our dedicated Aged Care and Retirement Living division and is currently delivering the landmark M by Montefiore project. Throughout his career, Neil has gained experience across the various aspects of a Site Supervisor role, from structures, to facades and finishes. Now specialising in finishes, Neil’s especially thankful for the way RCC has shown consistent support for his strengths over the years.

“With RCC you have the opportunity to go from being a foreman to a project manager, to a construction manager, if you want to. For me, my path is doing what I do best, and that’s working with people on site and making it all happen on the ground. This is where I’m happy.”

Neil says his approach to managing large teams is simple;

“I think I earn people’s respect because I do what I say. If you say you’re going to get an area ready or do a certain job, you do it. Being true to your word and working safe are important RCC values for us and our clients.”

As one of the project’s go-to men, Neil’s job is all about delivering certainty to his team and the client, Montefiore. Whilst Neil says he loves his job for many reasons, he said that the certainty and security RCC has given him over the years has made the biggest impact on him and his family.

“Feeling safe and being secure is a big thing for me and RCC has always given me that.”

Neil was nominated by his colleagues for the infectious positivity and hard-working attitude he’s brought to RCC for the last 20 years.

Neil’s experience speaks volumes about RCC’s unwavering culture and camaraderie despite the growth and evolution of the industry. By valuing our teams, and specifically their unique strengths and development, a sense of security means people like Neil can become valued, long-serving employees.

 

MORE ABOUT ‘M’ BY MONTEFIORE

Neil is currently a Site Supervisor on the $106m ‘M by Montefiore’ project.

The development consists of 79 luxury Independent Living Units in Sydney’s Randwick. Each apartment features high-end design and quality finishes, setting a new benchmark for quality retirement living.

 

MORE ABOUT OUR 10TH BEST PLACE TO WORK STATUS

The Great Place to Work assessment is a feedback-based study obtained from a confidential survey of our 700+ employees. It involves an independent audit across areas like hiring and integration, health and wellness, as well as workplace culture. In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia, RCC is interviewing 10 employees about why they love their job.

 

Learn more about Great Place To Work Australia and their 50 Best Places To Work Study.

 

 

Meet Gabby – She Loves Her Job

In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia by Great Place to Work, RCC has interviewed 10 employees who love their job. We’re honoured to have such passionate employees who jumped at the opportunity to share what they do, and why they love it.

 

Meet Gabby McGinness. Gabby is a Contracts Administrator based in the ACT. Since joining RCC, just 18 months ago, Gabby has grown to love her job for the mentors, and for her potential to develop and progress with the company.

“After starting with RCC a year and a half ago in the CA role, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Bob Anthony and Dave Archbold who have both been long serving RCC employees – over 20 years. They have been great mentors by always demonstrating the company values and showing me the RCC way.”

As a young cadet, Gabby says she was fortunate enough to receive invaluable mentorship from another female CA she describes as ‘strong, capable and determined’. After working hard to progress to a similar role, Gabby has now been a CA for four years – undoubtedly emulating the same hardworking attitude as her first female mentor.

“I’m working towards Senior CA at the moment, but long term I’d like to be a Contracts Manager. I’d love to manage all the head contract administration and take on more client liaison. The role also appeals to me because of the opportunity to manage and mentor a team in the same way I have been mentored.”

Gabby says that the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion with staff of various ages and levels of experience creates a positive culture and an environment where personal development and mentorship are accessible opportunities for everyone.

“There’s many times that I’ve been the only female on a project site, but I still get treated the same and have the same opportunities as my male counterparts.”

Belonging to a close-knit family herself, Gabby loves her job for the familial bond she’s formed with her team, and says site is a home away from home for her.

“My upbringing has taught me that there’s nothing more important than family, and that’s who you go above and beyond for.

When I joined RCC, I noticed this company has that same feeling within the project team and different business sectors. I think it is great that The Crookes family promote that family company mentality and invite everyone in the company to be a part of it.”

With her sights set on a prosperous career in the construction industry, it’s talented individuals like Gabby that make RCC’s team culture a supportive one. We’re proud to have a workplace that allows for progression, growth and fulfillment, but it’s our RCC family members who ultimately make this possible.

MORE ABOUT THE ANU SA8 PROJECT

The SA8 student accommodation project for the Australian National University (ANU) involves the design and construction of 1031 student accommodation beds with single occupant rooms in 8 buildings across 5-8 storeys. Designs for both SA6 and SA8 buildings are based on student surveys, emphasizing the importance of communal spaces and encouraging greater interaction between students, their families and the campus community. Having delivered the SA6 Bruce Hall Redevelopment project for ANU in 2017, RCC was honoured to be selected as the university’s construction partner to deliver the current SA8 development.

MORE ABOUT OUR 10TH BEST PLACE TO WORK STATUS 

The Great Place to Work assessment is a feedback-based study obtained from a confidential survey of our 700+ employees. It involves an independent audit across areas like hiring and integration, health and wellness, as well as workplace culture.
2018 was the first year RCC entered the assessment and we were thrilled to be awarded 17th Best Place to Work. Within a year, we rolled out a number of new initiatives to better the experiences of our people. To be recognised as the 10th Best Place to Work this year is a credit to our continued commitment to ensuring that everyone at RCC genuinely looks forward to coming to work each day.

Learn more about Great Place To Work Australia and their 50 Best Places To Work Study.