Businesses operating in the Australian building and construction industry face an unacceptably higher risk than any other stand -alone industry of entering into insolvency themselves or becoming a victim of insolvency further up the contracting chain.

Co- founder of the Melbourne Construction Gateway Marg Lange says, “The recent Senate enquiry into the unacceptable rate of insolvencies in the construction industry based on the unacceptable culture of non-payment to subcontractors for work completed on construction projects has been the catalyst for setting up her new business with Martin Cattach.”

“In my existing cash flow funding business Fifo Capital Bayside I was being referred a number of building sub-contractors at their wits end, having nowhere to turn after being turned away from banks and other lenders.”

“It was like everything was against them and no one was doing anything about it to help them.”

“When talking to a large concrete subcontractor in East Melbourne last week he expressed the unfairness of 110 page contracts written in the favour of project developers. Clauses that would need a sizeable legal investment to review the T & C’s.”

“The Director of this concreting company indicated to me that unless he spent $10,000 to get his lawyer to review the contract terms and then fight to make it fair was unequitable. You just end up signing and hope for the best’ because to hire a lawyer to review a contract every time you win a tender for one is not cost effective.”

Marg said it goes one step further:

The Senate enquiry summary stated “Insolvency in the construction industry has impacts on businesses, employees, families and communities. The collapse of a business places immediate pressure on the management and employees of that business, as well as its suppliers and contractors.”

“This is a community problem that affects families & kids leading to stress, divorce, and mental health issues and at worst suicide,” Marg says.

“Which left me thinking, when you make it to the top it is just as risky to lose it all just as it is to grow your business to get there.”

The Melbourne Construction Gateway was established to address this complex issue of risk and how it impacts the family unit in a seemingly rewarding career choice.

Working at grass roots level, with Melbourne’s best experts in the construction industry, the Melbourne Construction Gateway aims to address the issue of building sub- contractors not getting paid for the work they have done and focussing on helping sub-contractors find on going work.

The Melbourne Construction Gateway will assist building subcontractors find ongoing work and get paid by:

1. Taking you from your local Leader advertising, yellow pages and fridge magnet into the digital age

Upon joining the Melbourne Construction Gateway, you will be put in touch with our web and social media experts to review your online business profile in the social media world.

Understanding what others share in regard to your business or say about you in a review is “the old word of mouth” referral.

2. Connecting building sub-contractors with each other so you are easily found

The Melbourne Construction Gateway will ensure all members know who live in a local area know what other subcontractors are good at so they recommend on going work to those they know by being connected both on line and face to face.

Through forums, Facebook and a Members Directory where you can build your profile

3. Monthly Bloke Beer and Business sessions to set you ahead of the pack of your competitors

Through our monthly Beer Bloke and Business sessions in ONE HOUR you will pick up valuable information you can use to start transforming your business NOW.

Stopping into the pub for 2 FREE beers, finger food on the way home from work Melbourne Construction Gateway Members can also bring a mate for FREE.

In a casual relaxed hotel bar setting you can relax, unwind, talk to other subbies and get ahead of your competitors by picking up some smart ways to run your business more effectively giving you back your time to spend with your partner and the kids.

4. Supporting the wives and partners who may work in the business or are impacted by the business.

Wives and partners will benefit from Lunch and Learn Ladies days to get the support they need to be more effective in the role they have in the business.

Over lunch and a glass of wine wives and partners will learn from Guest speakers who have walked in their shoes and have a forum to chat and share their problems, worries, ups and downs with other wives and partners in the same boat.

Members of the Melbourne Construction Gateway can bring a friend for FREE

Marg Lange along with Martin Cattach launched Victoria’s first Melbourne Construction Gateway which supports a fair go for building sub-contractors. It provides access to the very best business support through Beer Blokes and Business sessions in a relaxed, casual, social, supportive environment featuring the construction industries’ top experts on a variety of topics.

Information about membership to Melbourne Construction Gateway along with a free ticket to the next Blokes Beer and Business session to be held on March 17^th at the Sandbelt Hotel in Moorabbin 4-5pm  Register www.constructiongateway/events First 2 beers are on us. Bring a mate along.

About Marg Lange

Having run her own small business in event management for 10 years, Marg has experienced the problems that occur when one business can’t pay another. Her passion for cash flow led her to open her own invoice finance business Fifo Capital Bayside and recently Melbourne Construction Gateway to meet the growing need of new ideas to approach working capital for the construction industry.