Burder Group
Wangaratta business, Burder Group, is a multicultural workforce success story. Over the last six years, the company has embarked on an intense global campaign to attract skilled migrants to its engineering business. Today it boasts employees from Israel, India and Germany. Each came with skills which the company found challenging to find as a result of increasing competition in the areas of engineering, drafting, design and tool making. 

Burder Holdings general manager, Adam Fendyk, said the migrants not only filled those gaps, but brought unique skills to the business as they had been exposed to very different conditions in their home countries. They have also brought systems into the rapidly growing business, which provided stability and organisational structure as it expanded.

"The boys have been readily accepted into the team of some 80 employees and are just one of the crew," Mr Fendyk said.  "We have not necessarily set out to assist in their transition into the Australian way of life, but it certainly has been assisted by our regular trips away, camping, fishing and wood chopping as a group.Through these activities everyone has got to know each other and it's been a terrific experience for all concerned." The employees also have the support of co-owner, Sue Fendyk, who said the young men are willing to attempt anything, look for solutions and expand their knowledge. "It's what this business is about," she said. "Continual improvement and finding better ways to make their products more efficient and ultimately, keenly sought after in the market place."

The company reports that the process of filling out the necessary paperwork for things like visas was exceptionally easy, with some being done through the internet. Mr Fendyk particularly acknowledged the assistance of the Department of Regional Development, Wangaratta Unlimited and the Rural City of Wangaratta through its Regional Migration Program. "It's been timely and efficient, getting the right people at the right time," he said. Mr Fendyk said he would recommend any business taking on a skilled employee from another country. "Don't be frightened of perceived difficulties," he said. "They are usually in the mind and not there in reality."

Precision Aerospace

Workers skilled in aircraft sheet metal work are often sought in Wangaratta to help bring World War II aircrafts back to their former glory by aircraft maintenance and manufacturing company, Precision Aerospace. Established in 1997, the company is currently rebuilding a number of planes for different governments across the world.  It's a job which company director Mr Griffiths said is both unique and fascinating.

"These wrecks have been literally pulled out of the jungle from Papua New Guinea," he said. "Many of these old wrecks have been laying buried since the second world war finished and are in pretty bad shape. But with painstaking work and a skilled workforce, it's rewarding work bringing them back to their past glory."

Help is needed to make and form blocks, make components, and finally assemble and rebuild the aircraft. Mr Griffiths said this could take several years per aircraft with eight people working on the plane.

"The cost is enormous, but the finished aircraft are invaluable," he said. "It's all worth while when you see this beautiful old aircraft gracefully navigating the skies again." Precision Aerospace jobs can be found on the www.LiveInVictoria.vic.gov.au website or by emailing migration@wangaratta.vic.gov.au for details.

Stephen Oxley

From little things, big things grow, as Wangaratta company Stephen Oxley and Company has discovered. The local surveying, engineering and development business began with just one man, Stephen Oxley. Today the local home-grown firm employs 15 people.

"It's been a very positive experience for us, and we would welcome a person from any country with the right skills and qualifications," he said.  Mr Oxley grew up and was educated in Wangaratta before leaving for the big smoke to undertake his uni degree. He graduated with a double degree in licensed surveying and civil engineering before returning to Wangaratta in 1982. Mr Oxley worked with the small surveying firm, KA Reed, until he established his own business.

From humble beginnings the firm has grown to a point where it not only works for local business people and local government, but has extended its service area to cover the wider communities of north east Victoria, venturing as far as Wodonga in the north and Seymour in the south.

The firm offers a wide experience of activities to its employees, from residential subdivisions (40 hectare lots or more), surveying, engineering designs for roads, water, sewerage, and drainage systems.

When asked about why the business has been so successful, Mr Oxley said there has always been an emphasis on keeping the client focus, knowing what they want and meeting and surpassing those needs.

"We are cost competitive with nationally based companies, whilst providing a personalised approach with our clients," he said. "We are a one stop shop, (planning, surveying, engineering designs, council approvals, the works) and we often boast all the client needs to do is sign the cheque." Mr Oxley also believes in personal development for his team. "We have a holistic approach to solving problems, often bouncing ideas off each other," he said. "It is also important that the team continually improve their skills by participating in further training, which often takes them to Melbourne for further study, and on their return they mentor others in those new skills. "So it's a win, win all round."

As for the lifestyle offered by the city, Mr Oxley said Wangaratta has everything a person could want, but is only a three-minute drive to go to work in the morning.

"I have mates who work in Melbourne and they can travel for well over an hour to go to a job," he said. "Country living also just has a lot to offer. You can get involved in community activities like our young team here which plays any type of sport they want and are on the kindergarten committee, or the local hospital committee, or like myself on the local business development committee, Wangaratta Unlimited". "You get so much from the community, it is nice to give something back, and in a small community you can do that. My boys said the other day as we were walking down the street, you know everyone Dad".  "I guess in a very nice way that's true. Country living is different and very special and I would not choose to live anywhere else."

Anyone seeking further information about vacancies at Stephen Oxley and Company can email Mr Oxley at soxley@stephenoxley.com.au