Seven years ago, Brisbane based sustainable timber specialist Kennedy’s Timbers had stagnated, were facing issues on all fronts, in a tough competitive market and at a risk of closure. However, a commitment to creating a positive workplace environment has proven successful for Kennedy’s Timbers in turning the business around and culminating in being named Queensland’s Small Employer of the Year the Queensland Training Awards. Source: Timberbiz
Kennedy’s whose projects include Howard Smith Wharves has found that with a positive workplace culture, both staff and productivity can thrive, which has been the case for the timber business.
Owner Michael Kennedy attributes the success of the business to creating an engaging culture which he said was an important formula within the business structure.
“You can spend time on other areas of your business like continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, but nothing works without getting your culture right,” Mr Kennedy said.
“I can make money by slashing costs, being pushy and demanding, but that is a miserable way of doing business. Invest in your culture on an ongoing basis, it needs to be in your veins, you have to live it,” he added.
Investing in the company’s culture has not only retained staff numbers, it has also increased productivity levels and turnover.
While Kennedy’s has always been profitable, there had been staff-retention issues, absenteeism, product complaints and until culture was addressed nothing worked over a sustained period.
With a new focus on safety; a continuous improvement to customer service; family; respected, work ready teams, Kennedy’s instilled micro-strategies to implement this new commitment to workplace culture.
After winning the 2019 Brisbane and Queensland Training Awards for Small Employer of the Year, Kennedy’s Timbers will compete for the national Australia Training Award on 21 November.
