In the homebuilding industry, success doesn’t start with a blueprint – it starts with people.
We recently brought together over hundred of Victorian team members, trades and suppliers for a day of gratitude, connection, and celebration.
And we often tout, we could not achieve anything without our partners. It’s a sentiment that continues to ring true, especially in a market that’s faced ongoing challenges and industry-wide complexities over the past few years. That’s why events like the Supplier and Subcontractor Appreciation Day matter more than ever.
ABN Group Victoria’s annual appreciation event brought together more than 500 attendees, including over 400 key trade and supplier partners. Also in attendance were members of the site-based team, building management and the ABN Group leadership team.
“This event is our chance to say thank you. To show how much we value the people who make what we do possible,” said Oscar McPhee, Procurement Manager at ABN Group Victoria.
“We simply couldn’t do what we do without our trade suppliers and partners.”
Oscar noted that the success of the event extended beyond appreciation. “Importantly, there were also some great conversations between trades that work with each other, such as framers speaking to our frame truss suppliers,” he said.
“It was great to facilitate those conversations in such a relaxed environment.”
“Strong partner relationships are crucial for ABN Group. Over the past few years, we’ve seen time and again how these connections have helped us through tough times. Whether that’s securing priority over other builders when resources are tight or working together to find more innovative, more efficient solutions.”
This spirit of collaboration and resilience was echoed throughout the day, particularly in the newly-introduced awards segment and video presentation—two thoughtful additions that elevated the event and made it even more memorable.
“We really wanted to take things to the next level this year,” said Holly Forbes, Executive Assistant and one of the event’s key organisers. “We worked closely with the marketing team to include a super-popular ABN Group merchandise section.”
“But one of the highlights was definitely the video we played capturing interviews with both internal team members and our trade and supplier partners, sharing what the relationship means to them,” says Holly. “Watching it together as a group was really powerful.”
The awards segment allowed the ABN team to spotlight those who consistently go above and beyond. It served as a tangible reminder that recognition, no matter how simple, goes a long way in building strong, long-term partnerships.
Site Manager Dean McDonnell also highlighted the importance of these working relationships from a day-to-day operational perspective. “It’s important we have good trades and suppliers – it’s a two-way street where we rely on each other for success,” he said.
“There are so many examples where our strong relationships make the job easier. A recent one that comes to mind was with my framer, John, who picked up an issue during the early stages of the build. It had gone unnoticed and, if it hadn’t been flagged and resolved quickly, it could have caused serious delays,” Dean recalls. “Our trades are genuinely our partners on the build.”
“We’re incredibly proud of our teams and trade partners for the standards they continue to uphold,” said Dean. “It’s a collective effort and events like this are a great way to recognise that.”
By bringing everyone together, sharing stories, celebrating milestones, and simply saying thank you, ABN Group continues to foster the kind of relationships that don’t just build homes but build trust, loyalty and long-term success.
As Oscar summed it up, “We’ve always believed that if we look after our partners, they’ll look after us. This event is just one way we put that belief into action.”
