SHAPE Canberra has won the Property Council of Australia ACT ‘People First Award’ for 2023.
This year’s ACT People in Property Gala Ball & Awards Night was held at the National Convention Centre Canberra on Friday, 18 August 2023. The Awards shine a spotlight on the exceptionally talented individuals and member companies in the construction and property industries.
The ‘People First Award’ recognises companies that have implemented and delivered outstanding initiatives and programs that benefit their people and strengthen their organisation.
Tom Sparkes, General Manager – ACT, accepted the ‘People First Award’ for SHAPE Canberra, which was recognised for its constructive workplace culture. In line with its vision to be ‘the place where everyone wants to work’, SHAPE and the Canberra team have implemented many great initiatives that promote personal and professional development and the health and wellbeing of its people and clients.
These initiatives include our safety-first culture that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of staff through industry-leading technology innovations, people development programs and continuous improvement of our safety management systems.
SHAPE fosters a personalised approach to careers to ensure everyone can achieve their own work and personal goals, as SHAPE offers professional memberships, free training courses, and mentorship programs to support the upskilling of our people. In addition to this, our leaders are also encouraged to partake in Leadership Development Program training.
SHAPE also promotes flexibility surrounding work/life balance, and have implemented a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan and a Reconciliation Action Plan for numerous years. SHAPE strongly encourages volunteer leave for our annual Give Back Month and other social and sustainable impact initiatives.
‘The place where everyone wants to work’, SHAPE and the Canberra team have implemented many great initiatives that promote personal and professional development.
For its efforts, SHAPE has also been recognised by a number of institutions, including receiving a Great Place to Work certification from the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place to Work Institute. In 2022, SHAPE was named as one of Australia’s Top 10 Best Places to Work in Property, Construction & Transport by Australian Financial Review’s AFR BOSS. For the last seven years, SHAPE has also been awarded the Culture Sustainability Award for maintaining a constructive culture by Human Synergistics.
While accepting the award, Tom said: “Although it has been a tough couple of years in the industry, something that makes a world of a difference is being able to work with good people. Our people are at the heart of our strategy, and we work hard to build a culture where everyone feels valued and supported.
“This award highlights SHAPE Canberra’s unwavering commitment to achieving a people-first company and culture. It’s a testament to our team’s collective effort, innovative thinking, and exceptional collaboration.”
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea, and skies. We’re grateful to those who have cared for, nurtured, and protected Country for future generations, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
