When Aboriginal-owned business A2B Personnel first teamed up with CIMIC Group's CPB Contractors on a Melbourne road project in 2022, it had just three workers on the job.
Fast forward to today, and A2B has more than 140 Indigenous employees working across CPB Contractors projects, clocking up around 161,000 hours on three major transport projects.
A2B Personnel executive general manager Mat Walker said the partnership had given the business the backing and stability it needed to grow for the long haul.
"Working with CPB Contractors has given A2B something incredibly important for an Aboriginal business like ours - continuity and the confidence to grow," he said.
"We started with three workers on one project, and CPB Contractors saw what we were trying to build and backed us for the long term."
Mr Walker said as his workers gained new skills and experience, A2B was able to take on more projects with CPB Contractors and other businesses. Some employees have also moved into leadership roles, becoming role models for the next generation of First Nations workers.
"That continuity has allowed us to grow our workforce, strengthen our business and, most importantly, create more sustainable careers for Aboriginal people," he said.
"For me, that's what a genuine partnership looks like. It's not about filling a target on one project. It's about building something together that keeps creating opportunities long after that first job is done."
CIMIC Group senior manager of Indigenous Engagement and Social Inclusion Sharon Gray said the company wanted to make sure Indigenous businesses had real opportunities to work across its supply chain.
She said the aim was to create economic opportunities that made a lasting difference for communities, individuals and businesses.
Ms Gray said working with First Nations businesses was also an important part of meeting CPB Contractors' commitments under its Reconciliation Action Plan.
"At CPB Contractors, we believe reconciliation is strengthened when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses have genuine opportunities to take part in and benefit from Australia's major infrastructure projects," she said.
"Our commitment goes beyond procurement. Through our projects, partnerships and people, we're focused on creating sustainable economic opportunities, supporting employment pathways and helping Indigenous businesses build the skills, experience and confidence to keep growing long after a project is complete."
Last year, CPB Contractors was the biggest contributor to Supply Nation's $4.1 billion in contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses.
During the last financial year, the company worked with more than 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, spending more than $99.7 million with them.
In May 2024, CPB Contractors also launched an internal Aboriginal Business and Social Enterprise database to make it easier to connect with Indigenous and social enterprises.
The database now includes more than 500 accredited First Nations businesses and is designed to encourage more of them to join the company's supply chain.
