Local Buying Program In Western Australia

Highlights for Western Australia, 1 July 2018 to 31 December 2018:

• $2,169,544 – Approved spend to local suppliers
• 170 – Approved work opportunities created by BHP employees
• 202 – Businesses approved to supply via the LBP
• 15.5 – Day average payment period from receipt of invoice

See Western Australia year to date financial results here.

For more information on the Local Buying Program in Western Australia please contact  your local C-Res Business Engagement Advisor, Georgie McInerney, via email georgie.mcinerney@c-res.com.au or visit our website.

C-Res Welcomes New Business Engagement Advisor

It is with great pleasure that we announce Georgie McInerney has joined the C-Res team as our Business Engagement Advisor, assisting with the delivery of the Local Buying Program in WA.

This key role will continue to provide valuable support to local businesses and site personnel with all matters relating to new business registrations, supporting existing registered businesses and assisting BHP employees with supplier and Program enquiries.

Georgie will be working part time, primarily within the Newman area.  As a Newman local, she brings with her a wealth of experience working with the community and also an understanding of local businesses in the Pilbara region.

Georgie is very keen to step into the role and continue the partnership between BHP, C-Res and the local business community, and can be contacted via email georgie.mcinerney@c-res.com.au

Image: Georgie McInerney (Business Engagement Advisor, C-Res).

WA LBP Celebrates Successes Achieved In First Year 

Local businesses in the Pilbara have directly benefited from more the $5 million in approved spend during the first 12 months of operations for the Local Buying Program in Western Australia.

Since the Program was launched in October 2017, over 200 small local businesses have successfully registered to supply goods and services to BHP’s WAIO operations and now enjoy greater visibility of the work opportunities raised on sites.

Over 150 work opportunities have been created in this short time, resulting in $5 million in approved spend for businesses in Port Hedland, the Shire of East Pilbara and the Shire of Ashburton.

C-Res CEO, Tracey Cuttriss-Smith and C-Res Directors, Darryl Camilleri, Kylie Porter and Melissa Westcott, recently visited C-Res staff in Port Hedland and joined BHP to celebrate the first anniversary of the Local Buying Program commencing in WA.  They all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to explore the Hedland harbour and township, and were pleased with the strategic outcomes and planning completed during engagements with key BHP management and stakeholders.  The celebration event was held at The Web Business Hub, the ‘new heart of business in the East Pilbara’ which offers targeted support to promote growth and diversification of the local business region.  This new vibrant and progressive space provided the perfect venue for the LBP’s celebration event, and was by all accounts a very enjoyable evening.  Guest speakers included Kylie Porter (C-Res Chairman) and Phil Jefferys (Head of Community, Strategy and Planning, BHP Min Aus Supply).  Suppliers also presented testimonials on the impact the Program is making on their businesses and the positive outlook generated from further assistance being provided by the Program.

Tracey Cuttriss-Smith mentioned “The entire C-Res team are very proud of the Program’s accomplishments in Western Australia, and the contributions being made to support our local communities here. Building business capability and prioritising the promotion of the local economy will remain focal points as we look forward to seeing the Program expand and deliver more opportunities to our local suppliers”.

BHP Western Australian Iron Ore Manager Community, Chris Cottier, said “We recognise that BHP plays a really important role in helping to support local businesses in the Pilbara and the Local Buying Program enables us to connect with small businesses more easily and efficiently than ever before.  While still in early days, the Program is proving to be successful and we are looking forward to seeing it continue to expand and deliver benefits across the Pilbara over the years to come”.

View our WA First Year Celebration video below 

Team Work Delivering Results For Site And Local Business 

Image: Gumala Contracting Team on Site at BHP Yandi.

BHP’s Yandi Creek Constraint Ore identified an opportunity for a local contractor to assist with the sorting and stockpiling of rock armour which will support the construction of flood protection bunds on site.

Stretching over a five month period, this large project saw a number of BHP departments collaborate to ensure it can be delivered safely and result in a positive outcome for all parties involved. With the assistance of the BHP Community Team and C-Res, WAIO Asset Projects team awarded the project to local Indigenous contractor, Gumala Contracting.

The project has led to Gumala Contracting employing an extra 20 operators while also developing the companies HSE experience and capability in BHP HSE Systems.

Image: Shelley Comtesse (BHP), Phil Jefferys (BHP), Kristy Marks (BHP), Danielle Van Kampen    (BHP), Kylie Porter (C-Res), Darryl Camilleri (C-Res), Nilson Davila (BHP), Tracey Cuttriss-Smith (CEO, C-Res) and Melissa Westcott (C-Res).

Hedland Collective: A Collaborative Approach To Enhancing Our Local Community

Since 2017, alongside many other local community representatives, C-Res have been proud contributors to Hedland Collective, an initiative which gathers Port Hedland business stakeholders together with State and local government representatives to launch a collective approach to delivering significant and lasting change to the town’s social fabric.

The Collective identified three areas of collaboration which included the strengthening local employment and business development. To address the three areas of collaboration, four area working groups were established:

• Pathways to Employment
• Resources sub-working group
• Supportive Hedland
• Vibrant Hedland

With a vision to support the development of small local businesses, C-Res believes initiatives like the Hedland Collective will prove extremely valuable to the sustainability and development of regional Australia.

A year on and the Collective is already delivering results and bringing together major mining company representatives and suppliers, while identifying opportunities where the resources industry can support priorities of the community.

Image: Alannah MacTiernan (Minister, Western Australia), Edgar Basto (Asset President, BHP WAIO) and Camillo Blanco (Mayor ,Town of Port Hedland).

Upcoming Events

22 February | Free Grant Writing Workshop | NEWMAN | TRAINING

Shire of East Pilbara invite all individuals from community groups, businesses, organisations and clubs to a free Grant Writing Workshop. Come and learn how to find and successfully apply for grants. For more information contact Hanna on 9175 8000 or email cce@eastpilbara.wa.gov.au

Register Now

 

27 February | NCCI Business After Hours | NEWMAN

Site Fleet Services invite all NCCI members to attend their Business After Hours. An opportunity to meet the Site Fleet Services team and find out what they offer and to network with other local businesses in the region.

 

February & March | North Regional TAFE short courses | PUNDULMURRA | TRAINING

TAE Design Skills Workshop 12-14 February 2019

TAE Learner Skills Workshop 15 February 2019

Mental Health First Aid   4-5 February 2019 & 21-22 March 2019

More Information