EMICoL - Offering Businesses More Opportunities For Success

The Engineering and Manufacturing Industry Cooperative Limited (EMICoL) has begun a campaign encouraging businesses to join it.

EMICoL aims to provide a support network and a collective voice for its members.

Most of its members are businesses in the engineering, mining and manufacturing industries.

EMICoL vice-chairman John Morris said being part of EMICoL will lead to businesses working collectively in negotiating improved deals with suppliers than if they were acting on their own.

He said by working together, members would be able to tender on larger projects and take advantage of commercial opportunities that they might otherwise miss out on.

Mr Morris said the group had a capability register of what each member business could do so members could call on each other’s services when needed.

He said businesses had already started seeing benefits from becoming a member.

“They’re getting more turnover by sharing their work,” he said.

“By sharing their workload they can deliver on time and move on to the next project.

“In the current environment in which we see a shortage of skilled labour in our industry the key to success is to pool resources and work together”.

EMICoL director Kevin Davis said the group was also focused on skills and training.

It had negotiated with TAFE colleges to change their courses to meet members’ needs and was working on a work experience program through Swan Alliance and Swan TAFE.

Mr Davis said EMICoL was developing an apprenticeship sharing program among members.

“This would let apprentices see a full range of trades and give them a full range of skills,” he said.

EMICoL is working on a website which will have member profiles, including their work capabilities, and links to their websites.

One of the benefits for members of EMICoL was the group’s successful application for members to take part in the Australian Industry Productivity Centres Business Review Service.

The program is normally available only to individual businesses but EMICoL was successful with a group application.

Mr Morris said this gave members who were part of the application an opportunity to meet a business adviser who could put together a plan for the future of their business.

“Several members have been very encouraged by this,” he said.

EMICoL was formed in 2007 after the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council received funding from the Federal Government’s Regional Partnership program in 2005.

The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council currently provides administrative support to EMICoL.

Regional Services Executive Manager Mick McCarthy said by working together companies could become more competitive.

EMICoL members can take part in forums, workshops, networking opportunities, industry tours and training.

Businesses that supply goods or services to EMICoL members and are interested in promoting their business or sponsoring EMICoL events can join as an associate or sponsor of the group.

Sponsors include Bohler Uddeholm (Australia) Pty Ltd and Palfinger Australia and Pacific Safety Wear.

Businesses interested in joining EMICoL can call 9424 2241 or email emicol@emrc.org.au.

Pictured:
L to R - John Morris (Project Industries), Mick McCarthy (EMRC) , Kevin Davis (Wallis Drilling Pty Ltd)