Pilbara Access walking its talk

IN just two years, Pilbara Access Management Solutions WA has increased its turnover 14-fold, from $1.1 million to $15 million.

The South Perth-based company, which provides scaffolding management services, from design and construction, to project management in the competitive mining, infrastructure and offshore oil and gas sectors, was established in April 2007 by chief executive Stephen Easterbrook.

The entrepreneur joined the WA Business News 40under40 alumni in February this year for his proven track record in developing sound business practices, his professionalism, staff management and innovative business management strategy.

Mr Easterbrook has eight years' experience working under contract for various Rio Tinto business units, with six of these years at frontline management based in Tom Price.

In true entrepreneurial style, Pilbara Access was launched in a mature market against no fewer than five existing operations, all vying and tendering for the same clients and purporting to have the solution and service that clients need.

From the outset, the company branded itself with a point of difference, offering quality service, delivered first time, on time, every time.

"All competitors in this market propose to offer a cradle-to-grave service whereby the scaffolding contractor will design a scaffolding solution to meet a client's project needs, then erect and implement it by providing a combination of equipment and labour," the company said in its submission to the WA Business News Rising Stars Awards.

"What has set Pilbara Access apart from the competition and made an instant impact on the market is the company's ability to set a new standard of delivery for an existing service, whilst still remaining competitive on price."

To do this, Pilbara Access had to demonstrate "a better way" to potential clients in order to win business as part of the tendering process, by adapting and responding to specific client needs.

Through quality assurance and a goal of "zero harm by sharing our knowledge and experience to create a safer working environment", Pilbara Access has built a strong reputation in the scaffolding industry.

As a result, the company's services are now delivered nationwide, encompassing the east Pilbara including Newman, the west Pilbara, Tom Price and surrounding areas, the Pilbara coast from Karratha to Port Hedland, and growing to Singapore and the South-East Asian market.

In expanding into other markets, the company draws on its "pillars of service", which represents the core, defining characteristics of the business - stability, structural integrity and reliability.

Through the structural integrity at all levels of management, and its development of a stable workplace where employees are regularly trained and their skills improved, Pilbara Access has built a reputation of reliability and quality.

Last year, the company received the Construction, Maintenance, Civil and Engineering Award as part of the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Annual Supplier Recognition Program.

The award recognises the efforts, achievements and innovation of suppliers that contribute to Rio Tinto Iron Ore's success by companies with the highest safety standards and performance.