MEET THE BOSS: TREVOR & JEMMA BISHOP WEST COAST BITUMEN

Written by Anthony O'Brien

Located in Port Lincoln, South Australia, West Coast Bitumen is deeply entrenched in its local community.

Established in 1992 by Trevor Bishop and his father Wally, West Coast Bitumen is led by a team of directors that now includes Trevor’s wife, Jemma Bishop.

The Bishops are proud residents of the local community and hold a strong commitment to supporting the local workforce. As a result, the company has been able to create job opportunities for 13 individuals from Port Lincoln, further contributing to the growth and prosperity of the region.

COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE: WEST COAST BITUMEN'S SUCCESS STORY

From humble beginnings, the business has flourished into a prominent provider of high-quality services, specialising in hot and cold single and multiple seals, as well as asphalt solutions. West Coast Bitumen caters to a diverse range of clients, including local government, rail, mining, and private enterprises, extending its services not only locally but also as far as the Northern Territory. At West Coast Bitumen, the team offers a comprehensive suite of asphalt and sprayed bitumen services tailored to the specific requirements of every client. Services include: ф Application of single and multi-layer sprayed bitumen, encompassing new seals and re-sealing. ф Emulsion sealing. ф Pothole repairs and road maintenance. ф Trench re-instatements involving both sprayed bitumen seal and asphalt installation. ф Installation of single and deep lift asphalt. ф Street sweeping.

According to Trevor Bishop, the inception of West Coast Bitumen unfolded as follows: “Well, back then, I was just a young guy, and my dad had been in this line of work his whole life. I was spending quite a bit of time fishing, which really annoyed my dad.

“So, on weekends, we started patching holes with a ute and trailer. Eventually, I managed to secure a contact at BHP by obtaining a phone number, and I landed some work with them. From there, we expanded our client base to include several more councils, and the business grew steadily from that point onward.”

Equipped with a modern fleet consisting of nine trucks, two Rosmech street sweepers, a 14,000 litre MBE Bitumen Sprayer, and its own mobile asphalt plant (one of only two in South Australia), West Coast Bitumen has achieved significant success across projects of varying scales. Whether it's an asphalt driveway or a large spray seal spanning up to 470,000 square metres, the firm prides itself on consistently upholding its reputation for excellent customer service. “Our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences contributes to our long-standing and successful client partnerships,” says Trevor Bishop.

“Since we often work as subcontractors for primary contractors, we recognise the responsibility of representing our clients in the best possible manner. We understand that the quality of our work reflects not only on us but also on our clients.

“Therefore, we are dedicated to providing top-notch products and services that align with industry best practices.”

West Coast Bitumen also prioritises being a high-quality, safe, and environmentally conscious organisation. “To uphold the highest standards in these areas, we maintain accreditation to the CCF Construction Management Code, an achievement we are proud of for the past 14 consecutive years,” Jemma Bishop said.

“Additionally, we have obtained DPTI Prequalification at levels S1 and A1, along with Northern Territory CAL Accreditation. These certifications testify to our commitment to excellence and adherence to stringent industry standards.”

Relocating And Transferring The Business To The Northern Territory

One of the most remarkable projects undertaken by West Coast Bitumen occurred in 2012 when the entire team was uprooted and moved to the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory (NT) to seal a runway at the Newmont Gold Mine. Trevor reminisces, "They needed a runway capable of accommodating jets, so we relocated the entire team and resided at the mine's on-site camp."

Jemma Bishop adds, "We were away for approximately three months if I recall correctly. At that time, it was a significant endeavour, the largest project we had ever undertaken.

“Naturally, it was quite nervewracking to shut down our operations in the Port Lincoln area for three months and wonder what would happen upon our return."

Regarding the response from clients in South Australia, Trevor explains that they planned accordingly. "We organised our schedule around it. We did return home once for a smaller project for the council.

“We had a job booked in, and since it involved asphalt work, which required equipment back at home, we flew back for a few days, completed the project in Port Lincoln, and then flew back up to the mine."

Empowering Employees And Technology

Uprooting their employees was also a significant decision for the management at West Coast Bitumen. Trevor states, "But as far as I'm concerned, being a good boss means not expecting your staff to do something that you wouldn't do yourself."

He personally participated in the three-month project in the Tanami Desert. Jemma Bishop adds, "Trevor has always been actively involved in the business, although he’s started to step back in the last two years. He's still very actively involved but doesn't go to site anymore.”

Another aspect of being a good boss is acknowledging the contributions of the team. Trevor asserts, "We can't achieve what we do without our employees. Ensuring that they are aware of their value and are appreciated is crucial. When clients praise our work, it's not just about us, it's about our team."

Trevor also emphasises the importance of treating employees with respect. "My golden rule is to speak to others the way I would like to be spoken to."

Jemma adds, "Trevor is also an excellent delegator. We hired an operations manager about five years ago, which was a game-changer for us. It allowed us to transition from working all the time in the business to working on the business and being true bosses."

Learning to delegate has been a challenge for Jemma. She admits, "I used to prefer doing everything myself, but as the business grew, I realised that one person couldn't handle it all.

“Delegating is crucial. Everyone has their own set of skills, and I've learned that my skills don't cover every aspect of the business. That's why we employ staff."

The company has embraced technology, particularly in administrative tasks. Jemma explains, "Many of our employees now use apps for payroll and on-site documentation.

“Since our team is frequently away from the office, technology has made payroll and compliance much easier."

Jemma Bishop mentioned using Xero, a software platform that revolutionised their bookkeeping processes.

“The adoption of Xero has significantly improved our accounting operations, especially during my transition from the day-to-day bookkeeping responsibilities to a more supervisory role. With Xero, I can effectively oversee and delegate tasks while staying informed about ongoing activities.

“In the past, we relied on a different accounting software that limited us to only one licence on a single computer. This posed challenges when we had two staff members, me and another colleague, working in the office. I couldn't send a quote if she was in the process of paying bills. However, since embracing Xero, our bookkeeping has undergone a remarkable transformation.”

When asked if West Coast Bitumen is more technology-oriented now compared to a decade ago, Jemma Bishop confirms, "Absolutely. We have definitely embraced various business technologies."

Building Relationships And Celebrating Milestones

As for the aspects of being a boss the couple find rewarding, Jemma enjoys mentoring new staff, particularly those in administrative roles. She says, "I enjoy showing them the ropes."

The Bishops also find satisfaction in having long-term employees who have become like family. Jemma says, "We have staff members who have been with us for 10 and 20 years. It creates a family atmosphere.”

To foster a positive work culture, Jemma explains, "We have always prioritised a family-oriented environment with our guys.

“We often have informal barbecues on Friday afternoons, especially during winter. If the team is working in town, Trevor will cook on the barbecue or prepare breakfast in the morning.

“We also make an effort to accommodate their family events. We understand the dynamics because we have families ourselves."

Ccf Sa Enhances Compliance And Industry Advocacy

Regarding their association with the Civil Contractors Federation South Australia (CCF SA), Jemma Bishop, who is a vice chair of CCF SA’s Women in Civil Committee, states, "We have been affiliated with the CCF SA for about 15 years. We initially joined to enhance our compliance standards. As a systemcertified contractor through the CCF SA, we have also benefited from their advocacy.

“They do an incredible job of supporting the industry and ensuring our interests are represented during budget and legislative discussions. They're always in there putting forward stuff that will help us."