Western stories Local icons provide their insights on how to make the most of the region’s incredible growth 88% would like to increase their contribution to It surely makes Western Sydney one of the best their local community if there was an opportunity places to launch an export business: proving your Why Western to do so within their job. concept amid a global market, with a ready-made springboard to those same markets abroad. And as demographer Bernard Salt noted, globally only New York and East London can boast greater It’s not surprising then, that 64% of Australian Sydney? levels of diversity. professionals would like to personally be a part of Western Sydney’s progression. And we feel New jobs the same. Why wouldn’t you be excited about Western A personal Sydney? Already ’s third largest economic Planting a garden region and home to 47 percent of Sydney’s Yet as any market gardener will tell you, whether it is population today, the area is already gearing up eggplants or bok choy that you’re growing, no seed for a projected 1.9% population growth each year bed will grow without love and encouragement – manifesto over the next 20 years. and neither can an area’s potential turn into results without the proper support. by Adrian Oldham Our survey confirms professionals throughout the country feel just as optimistic as we do about Luckily, we know that areas like , the region: 64% believe that in the next five years, and Campbelltown have been Western Sydney has the potential to progress earmarked for substantial investment, rejuvenation economically to the level of a large city like Sydney and economic growth by private business and or Melbourne. government bodies alike.

According to the plan, that feels like the perfect The Badgerys Creek airport project, spoken of for formula for employment growth: with a projected more than a decade, is now a true pipeline project, 200,000 new jobs expected by 2020. We anticipate slated for completion in 2026 – and having received a ‘balancing out’ of employment distribution in the backing of the Federal Government, which is Sydney, and a boom for Western Sydney in sectors helming the project. including property, infrastructure and construction, Walking around Western Sydney as it is today, manufacturing, sales and service-related industries. Why? Because they, like Michael Page, know opportunity certainly abounds. How would I Which is great news for the 91% of professionals these sites are considered perfectly strategic new in the region who would like to change their jobs to business locations, given their centrality to large know? As the NSW head of a company that work closer to home given the right opportunity. numbers of Sydney’s population, strong transport specialises in helping build both companies links and an aspirational local population. Smart New homes are coming too: with land for more businesses that are forward-thinking can capitalise and careers, I have learned to spot the signs. than 95,000 new homes having been rezoned in on this, by targeting the 65% of Western Sydney the Western Sydney growth centres. professionals who would prefer to work outside the There’s an air of potential in suburbs such CBD over working within it. And the added bonus of creating so many jobs in as Blacktown – and ambitions are rising in a place of such cultural diversity – and nearby one areas like Harris Park, Australia’s third most of the country’s soon-to-open business airports? multicultural suburb.

Melting pot One aspect that makes me truly excited about this project is that the hopes and dreams of Western Sydney really are those of the new Australia. According to the last Australian census, this zone is one of the most multicultural areas in the world – in a city 64% believe that in the next five years, Western Sydney has that is home to 70 nationalities, Western Sydney has a dozen of the potential to progress economically to the level of a large city Australia’s most multicultural suburbs. like Sydney or Melbourne. Half of ’s residents speak a language other than English at home. More than two-thirds of residents in Cabramatta, Wolli Creek and Hurstville were born overseas.

What this creates, is a sense of globalised community on a local scale. A recent Michael Page survey that tracked the responses 91% of professionals in the region would like to change their jobs from 2,895 Australian professionals confirmed this sentiment: to work closer to home given the right opportunity. What SMEs need Let’s talk Currently, the majority of Western Sydney That’s why we’re investing in helping you out with businesses are small and medium enterprises today’s hiring problems. (SMEs). And with the impact of decentralisation and consolidation in , we know By working with a team of talented recruitment that large businesses are on the way – some specialists and some seasoned storytellers, we are already established companies like Woolworths gathering forces to help you through the landmines and Aldi have moved here: many more including of hiring now. NAB and Amazon will soon be thriving in the region. But don’t just take our word for it. We’ve gathered I also know, because our management is on the a team of true Western Sydney champions, from steering committee of Shaping Future Cities, a across many different disciplines, age groups and position that might give us fewer evenings in an cultures. We have the head of a local law firm. A average month to go for a run – but certainly founding partner in a property investor. The leader provides a unique view on a project that’s truly of a co-working space. A champion of women’s gaining speed. employees. And serial entrepreneurs. Up for discussion will be hiring tactics and niche Helping out now opportunities – ways to spread your HR spending in People who work with me know I don’t hold back clever ways, and smart tactics around retention and in ambition: which is why I’m crystal clear that marketing. It’s our way of building a tool-kit for SME I want our company to be the top recruiter in managers to negotiate the road to a real Western Western Sydney. But we’re not going to get there Sydney dream: and our way of investing in being a by being unrealistic. And I know it’s not easy to part of that dream. invest in the dream today. Can you tell I’m excited? Write to me here and join I speak with SMEs every day who tell me, “Yes the march to the new Western Sydney today. alright Adrian, but I’m over here already. And now what?” And that right there is the challenge. It’s one thing to invest in the green field, knowing what’s coming – but let’s talk to the pain points of doing business next year in a place that is not yet completely there.

What of the struggle for technology start-ups to find the right talent to choose Penrith, when they could be working five minutes from the Harbour Bridge? How are HR managers in small businesses in the West meant to compete in the costly effort of talent recruitment with global companies boasting budgets with more zeroes than theirs?

By working with a team of talented recruitment specialists and some seasoned storytellers, we are “gathering forces to help you through the landmines of hiring now. My five siblings and I were raised in a pub in a great mixture of migrant families and people from How Jim Campbelltown. Growing up in a pub gives you less fortunate areas who really wanted to make lives a close affinity with everybody in the town – all for themselves. There was amazing growth in the manner of people, from the homeless people that region, and my brother said, ‘We’ve got to ride this Marsden is used to sleep in our garage from time to time on wave of growth.’ But that wave we were riding back cold nights, to local doctors and lawyers, to the in the ’70s was nothing compared with the growth tradies. It was not an academic environment, but that we’re seeing now. People used to talk about the riding the wave our family would regularly discuss the issues of the ‘potential’ of the West, but it’s no longer potential day around the dinner table. Nobody was excluded – it’s actually happening. And this is just the from discussing any topic. We were taught that groundswell. When we start to dig the first turf at the of change everyone was equal. airport [in nearby Badgerys Creek], it’s just going to be amazing. And I think people realised that. My older brother John and I both had a tendency towards advocacy, which led us to the law. John A lot of our clients now are significant commercial started Marsdens Law Group in 1968 and I joined and property clients, but I never want to lose sight him in 1973. There was never any question of of ordinary people who want basic law delivered practicing law somewhere other than the West. at a high standard, so that the young mums and We had a love of the area where we were born dads who move to the West in the future have got and raised. It wasn’t about making a affordable access to good legal services. commercial assessment.

We were basically a two-man practice. We set about expanding geographically, primarily in West and South-Western Sydney, then in 1979 we established an office in the Sydney CBD. Today, our main office is in Campbelltown and we also have offices in Camden, Oran Park and Liverpool. There are currently 14 partners and a total workforce of When Jim Marsden and his older brother John about 160. were growing up in the 1950s, Campbelltown When we were starting out, in the late 1960s and was a small rural community that felt completely early ’70s, Campbelltown and the surrounding areas were not exactly cosmopolitan, but they were full of separate from Sydney proper.

After training as a lawyer in the city, John decided to return home to found a locally Law firms obviously rely on a ready supply of competitive talent. For an SME in Western oriented practice; Jim joined him soon after, Sydney seeking to retain a similarly qualified talent pool, what would your advice be? and today is the firm’s senior partner. Marsdens Law Firm has grown significantly in the past five HIGHER LEARNING decades and now services all of NSW, but its The first thing is a good relationship with Western Sydney University. And if you’re a law firm, the Law head offices proudly remain in Campbelltown. School within the University. Secondly, offer a happy working environment. Thirdly, pay well. And, finally, don’t let the good ones go. Jim Marsden, Marsdens Law Firm

LOCAL APPRENTICESHIPS There’s a lot to be said for “going local” in your hiring: including investing time in getting to know local tertiary institutions, and offering graduate apprenticeships. This give you a strong local platform. In ‘candidate-poor’ areas such as law where there isn’t always a ready supply of talent, law firms rely on the ability to hire and retain qualified talent. But ultimately, many lawyers too want to work close to home because it enables us to have that kind of work-life balance, which is all the more important today. Our survey proves this too: a staggering 91% of professionals in Western Sydney would change It’s no longer potential – their jobs to work closer to home. ADVICE “it’s actually happening. Adrian Oldham, Michael Page I grew up near in a bit of a rough area. I bought my first property in in 2003. How Nathan There was no silver spoon. My dad was an NRMA Back then you wouldn’t find anything in Mount patrolman. He worked his entire life and died Druitt apart from mullets, Southern Cross tattoos, when he was 62. My mum also worked and didn’t flannos and VB cans. Now, you see a wide range Birch is retire until her mid-60s. I failed every grade from of cultures in the community. I used to feel unsafe kindergarten to Year 12. I was an ADD kid – I didn’t going over there but nowadays it’s full of families fit into the system. and there’s lots of cool stuff happening. Migration investing in and multiculturalism have been really good for I was 13 when I first got excited by property. My Western Sydney. older brothers had bought small houses nearby, the heartland just what they could afford, and I wanted to be like I quit my day job at the age of 24, but I got bored, them. I realized that rich people owned multiple so I started the Binvested group of companies for properties, and that property values almost always fun. I employ about 200 people, from all walks of went up. There were lots of Housing Commission life. I’m 32 now, and I still hustle so hard. People areas near where we lived, and during my childhood tell me I should just stop working and enjoy life. I saw those areas clean up and prices increase. But then what would I do with my days? Houses in some of those suburbs sell for $1.5 I used to give investing seminars in other parts of million now. the city, and when I’d talk about Western Sydney, I decided that I wanted to own 10 properties people would turn their noses up. That Western by the time I was 30 and have each one bring Sydney stigma is gone now. Sure, I could move me in some passive income that I could live off. our offices [located in Bella Vista] to the CBD or So I started saving up. When I finished school, I Barangaroo and have water views and drink pina didn’t have any real employment prospects. But coladas and drive a cool car. But Western Sydney I loved property, so I got myself a job at a real- is the heartland. It’s full of hard-working mums and estate agency. I also worked in advertising at News dads and families. And that’s what I like about it. Limited, and worked on the door at a pub. For years I worked two full-time jobs, which meant Born to working-class parents and raised 20-hour days. One year I only took seven days off. around Parramatta, Nathan Birch struggled to I saved every cent. focus at school and failed some of his classes. As a teenager, he craved independence and was inspired when his older brothers moved out and bought small houses in Sydney’s West. Obviously for an SME running on a tight budget, property costs are a key variable. He began saving, and bought his first property What would your advice be to managers seeking the best location at an affordable cost? – in Mt Druitt – when he was 18. By age 30, he had a $30 million property portfolio. Birch REVERSE ENGINEER YOUR BUSINESS founded the property investment group It’s important to consider the logistics of your business when you search for property. Look for the Binvested and was named runner-up in the infrastructure that will attract the right employees and the right clientele, such as good road links and Investor of the Year awards in 2013. ample parking for clients and public transport connections for employees. You need to understand the needs of your business and where your clientele come from – reverse engineer the business to understand these needs. If your clientele is travelling from the east or industrial parts of the , consider a location such as Norwest Business Park, which has good motorway access to both the airport and city and will be serviced by the when it’s complete. Nathan Birch, Binvested

LOCATION-PROOF STRATEGY Our digital environment gives many well-positioned businesses the chance to transcend location, by Western Sydney is the heartland. bringing goods and services to the customer, and handling service issues remotely where possible. If your business is built around a digital strategy that makes conversion easy and convenient wherever ADVICE the customer is, you have the platform to be “based” almost anywhere – from which you can expand And that’s what I like about it. easily in future. “ Adrian Oldham, Michael Page I’m a Western Sydney girl, born and raised, and We have three brands within the organisation. Amanda Rose: I’m proud of it. I believe it’s my calling to work with There’s Western Sydney Women, which operates the women of Western Sydney and to develop free workshops that help women with job readiness their futures as much as possible. I often work and financial literacy. There’s also Western Sydney Advocating for with overseas companies who are hoping to Business Women, which co-ordinates workshops establish themselves in Australia, and outside of and networking events for those who run small- my professional life I travel frequently. But my heart and medium-sized enterprises. And then we have women in remains in Western Sydney. Western Sydney Executive Women, which brings together executive-level women who either live or Until recently, many people from other parts of the work in Western Sydney and acts as a sort of talent the region city considered the region to be the domain of the pool for organisations looking for board members. poor and uneducated. But now that the region is growing and there are more opportunities, people Our goal is for women to be confident and are starting to respect the West, which is powerful. economically independent, regardless of where they It’s fantastic. There’s always been eclectic talent in are in life. We want women to trust in their abilities, Western Sydney but now outsiders are finally paying so they can make a major contribution to the attention and realising that, in many ways, this Western Sydney economy. region is the future of Australia. I’m blessed because my work takes me all across There’s an incorrect assumption that if you’re a the region, from Parramatta to Bankstown to the woman from Western Sydney, you’re not ambitious Hills. I’m everywhere. For me, visiting all the different or you don’t want a career. But the women I work food enclaves is a particular highlight of travelling with do. And often they want to stay in the area around the West. The restaurant scene in Harris where they were raised – to reinvest in the region. Park is my all-time favourite. I might be biased, but I believe that women in general will give back to the I think Ginger is the best Indian restaurant in all communities that help them, so if Western Sydney of Australia. can help these women become who they want to be, they will return that favour. There’s massive Encouraged by her family, the young Amanda untapped potential. Rose focused on study and nurtured her interest in business. As she moved through high school and on to university, she was confronted by the stereotypes that some Australians ascribe to Western Sydney, particularly its women. Amanda, as an advocate for Western Sydney women, what’s your advice to women managers seeking to tap into the local talent pool? Any great pockets of talent that you’d So Rose co-founded Western Sydney suggest looking into? Women, an advocacy group that connects and empowers women in the region during all THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX stages of their lives and careers. Today, she There are women all around Western Sydney looking for work. Don’t limit yourself to the typical places juggles her commitments to the organisation to source talent: use social networks – there are multiple online groups of women – openly discuss opportunities at events and meetings to help spread the word and, with the infrastructure boom with speaking and consulting work and happening over the next 30 years, look at skills centres across all of the region: they deal with women appears regularly on TV and radio. from school-age right up to senior management and are a great source of talent. Amanda Rose, Western Sydney Women

DEVELOP SOCIAL REACH There are a number of networking behaviours, which when combined with rigour, work well to expand your reach. We work hard to build a “social recruiter” culture, which involves our teams reaching out I’m a Western Sydney girl, and sharing opportunities, and curating interesting stories through social media. We also prioritise face-to-face meetings, and getting out into the community. And where you’ve helped to create a ADVICE successful placement for somebody in the past, that person is often happy to connect you to the right and I’m proud of it. person in their own circle. “ Adrian Oldham, Michael Page Le Ho on In a few short years, she turned a struggling waste business, Capital City Waste Services, into a $10 million success story. supporting Today, she runs Aspiring Promotions, whose mission is young to support young entrepreneurs. I grew up on my parents’ small farm in Virginia, they don’t own anything – they are building a life South Australia. My parents were refugees who from scratch. And it’s important to remember that entrepreneurs arrived in Australia from Vietnam in the early 1980s refugees feel a great sense of loyalty and gratitude with a limited grasp of the English language. Like towards Australia, which translates into supporting many other migrants, they compensated for their the Australian economy through work. I came to lack of language skills by using their practical Australia when I was a year old and I consider myself knowledge from back home to start a business Australian through and through. Australia is the in their new homeland. only country I know, and for me personally it’s really important to give back to the Australian economy. I came to Sydney when I was 18 and I’ve lived and worked in the West ever since. When I finished uni “The other thing about Western Sydney is that it’s at age 21, my plan was to start a small business in such a cool place to live. The eating is great: I’ve got retail, but within a couple of years I found myself Vietnamese food, Syrian food and Indian food right heading a $10 million waste management company. at my doorstep. There’s also a lot of green space Since then, I’ve tried to support other migrants and in the West, which many people don’t realise, and their families to get established in the area. there’s plenty of room here for future construction.

The region has grown incredibly since I’ve been “It’s also very central: I’ve run all of my businesses here. Western Sydney has become a key arrival out of Western Sydney because logistically the new point for refugees and migrants – we’ve accepted freeways make it very easy to get into the CBD or The multi-talented Vietnamese Australian many thousands into the community in the past out to Campbelltown or up to the Blue Mountains. couple of years alone. I think that the migrant For a waste management business, especially, being Le Ho (she’s an entrepreneur, businesswoman, mentality of starting a small business from scratch connected to the entire Greater Sydney region is key. author and speaker) took out the top prize for has been a key driver of the growth in Western business in the Western Sydney University Sydney – not just in recent years but over the past four decades. The businesses we have here now are 2017 Women of the West awards. Her strong and resilient. childhood, on a farm in South Australia, was In my experience, migrants and refugees strive defined by sacrifice and hard work, and when in the workplace because they’ve overcome so she arrived in Western Sydney aged 18, she much adversity to reach Australia. In most cases, was determined to make a name for herself.

87% of professionals in Western Sydney agree that “to work for a I’ve run all of my businesses small-to-medium enterprise, is to share in the vision of the owner.” “out of Western Sydney. ADVICE would out in Western Sydney? you have starting for entrepreneurs ofgrowingIn terms and maintaining what fundamental acompetitive team advice oftalent, Adrian Oldham, Michael Page Michael Oldham, Adrian to grow. which from You’ll aplatform have then partners. and customers your to directly speak that messages community, the within messages to powerful this linking and leadership, your for profile asocial building about hard think framework, this Within framework. abusiness to curate they’ll help forefront, the in customer the have you If customer? the for that to create to internally do need do we customer. What the suit to needs do you Everything customer-first. about always It’s basically WALK TALK THE Promotions Aspiring of Founder Author, Entrepreneur, Ho, Le for personal growth. pathways more them gives it because staff the benefits also it but obviously, business, the benefits this staff: up-skilling in invest also should They themselves. within have they that passion and vision same the staff their in to instil need they why is –which forward business the to drive team passionate and devoted a without stage start-up the past get to difficult it find will owners business said, That them. with bring refugees and migrants that knowledge and experience sets, skill the of utilising advantage the have here businesses so area, diverse culturally Australia’s most probably is Sydney Western INVEST IN PASSION IN INVEST

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Mine is a love story. I’m originally from South In my experience, business owners in Western Debbie O’Connor Africa but about 20 years ago I was on a holiday Sydney are exceptionally hard-working and in Scandinavia when I met a lovely Australian incredibly dedicated. In fact, they work even man from Penrith. We began a long-distance harder than business owners elsewhere, and on the relationship and about 10 months later I made that’s because in the past there has been a stigma my way to Sydney and we got engaged. We were towards our region that they have been forced to really tempted to live close to the city but I’m a overcome. Today, though, you only have to drive importance very family-orientated person, and so is David. around Penrith and look at the types of cars that We decided we wanted to be close to his relatives locals are driving to know that there is serious of community in Penrith. money in Western Sydney now. What I discovered in Penrith was quite surprising, Our co-working space is modern and distinctive. and it shattered all the preconceived ideas I’d It’s not the sort of operation you’d necessarily in business developed about Western Sydney. It’s a very expect to find in the West. We’ve been dubbed the community-focused place: people know each Surry Hills of Western Sydney and the Paddington other, and you normally don’t get that in an urban of Penrith. People walk through the door and say, environment. When I arrived, I didn’t know anybody ‘Whoa! This is in Penrith?’ And I just say, ‘Heck, apart from David’s family, but I was able to meet yeah.’ Our space is indicative of the way Penrith is people and network and grow my business. I don’t evolving. I see these kinds of spaces becoming the know if I could have done that if I’d started a norm in this area. business in the city. I come from a country with 11 official languages: This region has grown so astronomically since South Africa is a huge melting-pot of cultures. And I moved to Australia. It’s making the area a very that’s the feeling I get in Western Sydney, too. It’s interesting and exciting place to do business. got an energy to it that makes it a really exciting The most amazing part of running a co-working place to be. It’s not a quiet, dormant place. It’s space in Penrith is the diversity of the people who vibrant, it’s energetic – it’s got a pulse. And I’m come through. Right now, we have an Aboriginal noticing a change within the people living here. South-African-born Debbie O’Connor founded archaeologist, an architect who designs tree-top There is a growing sense of pride that just didn’t adventure parks, a guy who runs a global online exist when I moved to Penrith 17 years ago. The Creative Fringe, a shared workspace, after wedding business, a kinesiologist, plus social moving to Penrith with her Australian husband, media managers, copywriters, photographers and whom she met overseas. web developers. In the past we’ve had personal trainers, mortgage brokers, naturopaths ... it’s just incredible, and it shows how diverse the business O’Connor grew up in a tight-knit rural community here is. community in South Africa and felt isolated when she arrived in sprawling populous Sydney. The Creative Fringe was her solution: a place where small-business operators and freelance creatives such as herself could find camaraderie as well as business facilities. O’Connor is also the founder and creative director of White Design, which operates out of the workspace. 97% of professionals in Western Sydney say that achieving work-life balance Business owners in Western is becoming increasingly important as they progress in their career. “Sydney are incredibly dedicated. ADVICE turned into a strength? intoturned astrength? innovation and creative vision? How would you suggest Western the Sydney location can be What advice would you have for SME maintain to managers ateam trying that relies on Adrian Oldham, Michael Page Michael Oldham, Adrian West. the in exist now opportunities these that is aspect main the talent: around Talent congregates locally. roles dynamic interesting, to find able now are city, many the in to work need the felt previously people creative and of innovative alot previously, whereas change: will landscape The well. search you that and ones, interesting are available opportunities the that ensuring it’s about then And attract. to seeking are they of talent type to the user-friendly as designed is workplace their that sure to make of work alot do of whom many companies: growing with we work means business of our nature The BUILD RIGHT THE ENVIRONMENT Fringe Creative The O’Connor, Debbie it’s so awin/win. employees, fatigued less and happier healthier, get Employers friends. and families their with to connect time more and balance work-life better have they of community, sense astronger have they to home, close work people When locals. employing in believe strongly Ialso on. to draw of minds millions we have Sydney Western in and one, than effective and exciting more far is minds many of power The structure. to a formal confined is everyone where thinking narrow with achieved be cannot This ideas. solutions-based in results thinking Creative level. higher up a to step also but me surprise only not they that find Iusually responsibility, to on take opportunity the people Igive When thinking. their with to creative be and decisions to make team your Empower LOCAL AND EMPOWERED TEAMS AND LOCAL From a real-estate perspective, Western Sydney is and-land packages in the West. They view this as a Scott Timbrell exploding, and it’s only going to get stronger. It’s the safer investment option in the current environment largest commercial real-estate market in the Greater because growth has slowed in the city’s East. Sydney region right now. There’s huge growth going A great joy of taking on this new role for Knight on the region’s on in terms of infrastructure – including roads, rail Frank [Timbrell was appointed in early October and the airport at Badgerys Creek – and that’s 2017] has been learning about Western Sydney helping the various town centres across the West myself. I grew up on the so real estate to grow, too. For Knight Frank, it’s simply good I’m still discovering things about the West. A lot of sense to have a full-service agency out here that the people here are second- or third-generation looks after office and commercial leasing, industrial residents, and they’re very passionate about their potential leasing and sales, and house-and-land sales. home. They’ve seen the area grow over the years In Parramatta, you just have to look at the current and their excitement for this new phase of growth slate of commercial DAs and the incoming is palpable. People in the Western Sydney government tenants to realise what a big deal the community are very open and friendly towards current boom is. There’s a buzz in Parramatta when people like me who have something to contribute you walk around – everyone can feel it. And, of to the growth story of the region. There’s a lot of course, as the commercial side grows, there will be passion out there. a need for more housing. Further West, everything’s For me, nothing beats spending time in Parramatta. gearing up around the new Western . I think a lot of people from other parts of Sydney Once that starts construction [in February] next don’t realise just how big Parramatta has become, year, it’s going to drive that area even more. The and how much further it has to grow. It’s just interest will only intensify. constantly evolving. I love walking around and The foreign investment into Western Sydney seeing new developments spring up before my seems to be growing exponentially. There’s interest eyes. It’s really special to be in Western Sydney from across Asia: Chinese, Malaysian and some while it’s in this evolution stage. Vietnamese investors as well. Even some of the Scott Timbrell began his career on Sydney’s bigger established Chinese developers who previously focused on high-density development laid-back Northern Beaches, a world away from near the Sydney CBD are now looking at house- the buzzing West, and also worked on the Lower . When he was appointed director in charge of Western Sydney for property giant Knight Frank in 2017, he brought with him an appreciation of Western Sydney’s uniqueness and its staggering potential compared to other As someone who needs to build dedicated sales teams in Western Sydney, what would your key parts of the city. advice be for SME managers around training and retaining talent? Do you have strategies to deal with the competition from the CBD? Richard Horne, Knight Frank’s NSW managing director, said Timbrell’s appointment would help “to spearhead the continued expansion of our STRONG TEAM CULTURE The CBD is currently a highly competitive environment that has a strong and dominant presence from Western Sydney business, including Liverpool, key agents across all sectors. With that in mind, businesses that are looking to attract and retain talent in and also to drive our metropolitan Capital Western Sydney should prioritise building a strong team culture that looks after its employees as a way to create value. Ambitious talent looking for career opportunities should be reminded that Western Sydney’s Markets business in Western Sydney. urban activation precincts have plenty of guaranteed growth in the pipeline to be taken advantage of. Scott Timbrell, Knight Frank

PUSH TRAINING It’s really special to be in Building and developing a sales culture is something we work hard at as well. While suitable background and certification are a must, successful businesses often invest in training and development, to create a ADVICE culture which supports and nurtures a career path within the organisation. Then the key is to provide a Western Sydney while it’s in stable environment within which your team can realise their potential. “this evolution stage. Adrian Oldham, Michael Page Let’s discuss the opportunities in Western Sydney! The survey findings quoted in this report are based on a recent Michael Page online survey that tracked the responses from 2,895 professionals all across Australia. The aim was to get a sense of the sentiment around work, factors influencing job decisions, lifestyle and the rise of urban Adrian Oldham, Managing Director, New South Wales areas such as Western Sydney. The information and material in this document has been created to give general guidance, but does not constitute advice. While T +61 2 8292 2226 Michael Page uses reasonable care in compiling and presenting the information and material in this document, we make no representation E [email protected] or warranty whatsoever regarding the accuracy, currency, completeness, adequacy or suitability of this document. This document, or any part of it, shall not constitute any offer or contract or other legally binding obligation, unless otherwise agreed by Michael Page and the client in writing. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Michael Page shall not be responsible or liable for: (a) any loss, liability or damage suffered or incurred arising out of or in connection with any access to or use of this document or any of its content, including without limitation by any person who is not named as the client; or AUSTRALIA (b) any reliance on, or decision made on the basis of, information or material included or omitted from this document. If any warranty cannot be excluded, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Michael Page’s liability will be limited the cost of Sydney West Glen Waverley correcting the report. In any event, Michael Page will not be responsible or liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, Level 4 Building 5, Level 1, exemplary, punitive or special damages, loss, liability or expense. 110 George Street 540 Springvale Road, Parramatta NSW 2150 Glen Waverley VIC 3150 T +61 2 8836 0700 T +61 3 8562 5400

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