As a child, I remember visiting construction sites with my father and being fascinated by the workings of the sites. I can still smell the smoke from the welder, and hear my Dad’s voice as he answered question after question from a curious child. As I grew older, my fascination expanded, as did my insatiable appetite to know how things worked, how it all came together, and I always wondered if it could be done better.
In my teenage years, I worked with my uncle as a window fitter during my school holidays. Long before the days of stringent OHS, I remember watching men walking across beams, metres in the air carrying panes of glass. Thankfully some things have changed. Meeting suppliers, clients and other fitters gave me an insight into the many details which need to come together to ensure a clear workflow and a quality build. It was these early experiences which set my career in construction and ultimately Law.
I entered the construction industry, working on site as a Project Management cadet, learning the ins and outs of all things construction. Over the years I have seen incredible progress in the industry from materials to techniques across the many disciplines of construction, down to the legislation which ensures everyone is abiding by the same regulations.
However, the one thing which has always remained a constant in construction, is money, cashflow. The lifeblood of the industry. If you’ve been in the construction industry for a while, chances are you’ve heard about the Security of Payment Act, and probably experienced your own issues with payment. If you haven’t, what’s your secret?! The fact is, with so many competing priorities and elements to manage, construction is tough and it’s hard to stay ahead. It’s one thing to build well, it’s another to get paid.
Once I made my move into Law, one of the most asked questions was ‘how do I follow the Security of Payment Act?’ for which there was no easy answer. Which is why I developed SOPA Toolbox. SOPA Toolbox is Australia’s first legally-backed Security of Payment App designed to manage and track the requirements of the Security of Payment Act accurately. A must for everyone in the construction industry. Builders, lead contractors, trades, architects, developers, indeed everyone in construction are unified by one complex piece of legislation, the Security of Payment Act. Whilst it’s the most powerful piece of legislation in construction, it is the most difficult to comply with. Simply missing one critical step in the timeline, could risk payment. Your money gone.
One of the most complex and challenging areas of construction has been simplified with one app, and this is one advancement in construction, I am most proud to be a part of.
Check out the SOPA Toolbox App today and get yourself #SOPAsorted