As the mining and resources industry – and others – continue to deal with Australia’s tight labour market, supply chain congestion and global uncertainty, we at Zenith Energy believe our ability to tackle these issues head on is the result of having the right people within our team, and a strong workplace culture.
While supplying power to remote mine sites is a challenge in and of itself, the last two years has added pressure in other areas.
Recruitment has been our biggest issue of the past 24 months, and while I believe we’re through the worst of it now that Western Australia’s border has reopened, it’s still a very tight labour market.
Added to that is supply chain congestion and general global uncertainty, which is pushing up prices in many areas, and you can understand the difficulties we’re facing as a company.
However, we’re getting through it because at the heart of company is good, experienced people, and we strongly believe in the value of communication.
Zenith Energy has worked hard to build a strong workplace culture over the past 15 years, and it’s paying dividends.
Knowledge and accountability are among our core values, and we’re seeing this play out in what has been a challenging couple of years.
For example, where supply chain congestion has pushed back arrival times for vital infrastructure, we know we have the right people in place to demonstrate to clients that we are experienced at developing innovative solutions, and we can communicate those solutions effectively.
We invite our clients into our wheelhouse so they can see what we do, and how we do it. And that’s working well for us.
Our commitment to communication is also assisting in dealing with other key issues;
- Recruitment: With WA’s unemployment rate sitting at 3.4% in June, and the national rate at 3.5%, recruitment is likely to be tough for a while longer. However, Zenith is also looking at employee incentives beyond money, offering training, upskilling and growth opportunities. This in turn creates longevity and loyalty among staff, further boosting the company culture.
- Global Uncertainty: Aside from pushing up the cost of doing business, global uncertainty is also impacting commodity prices. The value of open, two-way communication between Zenith and our clients is essential to ensure we’re on the same page moving forward, and no one is surprised by sudden changes.
The rise in global fuel prices is also impacting the industry, and while Zenith is insulated somewhat by not supplying fuel in most instances, it’s resulting in some companies taking a fresh look at renewables.
While renewables can be seen as an expensive capital investment, the soaring cost of oil, diesel and gas means renewable power generation becomes a more attractive longer-term investment.
We’re also seeing technology advances making installation of renewables more cost-effective and time efficient compared to even a few years ago, which makes it more attractive again.
An emerging challenge we’re anticipating in coming years will be addressing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations of clients, especially in the context of meeting our own 2035 target for Net Zero.
But, the great thing about that challenge, is that once again we know we have the right people in place.
There are still many paths to travel, but we’re in a good spot as we have a lot of really smart people to take on that responsibility, and showcase their knowledge and experience. I’m confident we have some exciting times coming.
