Buildingskillsonbothsidesoftheworld
Hutchies’GlobalBuildingExchangeProgramcreatesgrowthandconnectionacrossAustraliaandtheUnitedKingdom
Hutchies’ Global Building Exchange Program (GBEP) continues to give company members the chance to live, work and learn across Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The latest round of exchanges finished up in December 2025 with Wates Group UK. Participants returned with practical lessons, fresh ideas and stories that show the value of learning on the ground in a different construction culture. We’ve had feedback that highlights growth, cultural insight and practical skills that participants will bring back to their project teams and homes.
From Brisbane to London, Melbourne to Sunderland, the exchange gave site and commercial leaders the chance to live and work overseas, bring fresh ideas back home, and build relationships that will last well beyond a single project.
To mark this milestone, we spoke with four participants who took part in the GBEP exchange between Hutchies and Wates to hear how they think about projects, people and leadership across both countries.
Proud moments on both sides of the world
Each participant shared moments they felt proud of during the exchange.
For Lachlan, it was completing the handover of corridor and stairwell areas across all levels for final finishes before his placement ended. Those zones came with several challenges when he joined the project, so seeing them ready to hand over and knowing it helped keep the program on track was a key goal achieved.
Ambika said she felt proud to be selected for the opportunity, trusted to represent Wates, able to add value and made to feel genuinely part of the Hutchies team. On a personal level, she is proud she navigated relocating and living solo, made the most of the experience, and left with new perspectives, strong connections and great memories.
Brian highlighted smaller, hands‑on wins as well as broader ones. He is proud of adapting to a new environment and working routine, and contributing meaningfully despite differences in systems and terminology. One standout moment was helping build a raised access floor on the CMATS project – a task he says he would never have been involved in back in the UK.
For James, a key milestone was taking ownership of a complex section of external works early in his placement in Brisbane. Working with new subcontractors, weather restrictions and limited design, he built strong relationships, adjusted sequencing, coordinated early starts and tightened daily planning so the team hit the programme date and delivered the works safely, to the right quality, ahead of the revised target.
Big projects and small moments
The exchange also delivered some unforgettable site visits and team experiences.
Lachlan will never forget visiting the Gigafactory in Sunderland, a Wates project to build a facility for electric vehicle batteries. The site is said to be the size of 23 football pitches, with a project cost of 1 billion pounds. He was struck by the clever solutions used to tackle complex challenges on a project of that scale.
"It’s the kind of project you might only see once in your career."
James said one of his standout memories was seeing how strong team morale became on site, particularly in the group led by the foreman he worked closely with. Time spent together outside work – grabbing food after a long shift, going for a few beers, or watching the rugby on a team night out – played a big part in how positive the experience felt. For him, it showed how much stronger a site team can be when relationships extend beyond clock‑on and clock‑off.
For Brian, the GBEP trip to Melbourne was especially memorable. Meeting the teams there and visiting their projects became a powerful knowledge sharing opportunity.
Ambika enjoyed hosting GBEP participants around Melbourne projects and sharing a team dinner to see different projects and spend time with Team Leaders in a social setting.
A trip to Brisbane was another highlight, where she learned more about group level functions and attended the Ladies Lunch. She said those moments stood out because they combined learning, relationship‑building and fun.
The people who made a difference
Everyone involved could point to people who shaped their experience.
For Lachlan, Michael from Wates stood out for his positive and determined attitude. He stayed calm, focused and upbeat even when others felt stressed, which gave Lachlan a model for how he wants to handle challenging situations in his own career.
Ambika highlighted site leaders Dave and Noah, who invest time in mentoring younger company members while keeping productivity and morale high.
Brian said Steve Wilson taught him the value of building strong relationships on site. By investing time to understand subcontractors’ perspectives, they were able to prevent issues before they arose, which was critical on projects like CMATS running in live civilian and military environments with constantly evolving client requirements.
James pointed to Foreman Jack Richards, who took the time from day one to walk him through how Hutchies operates, what the expectations are, and how communication works on site. Jack did not just explain things – he showed them in real time with subcontractors, which helped James adapt quickly, build rapport and gain confidence in new workflows.
Lasting impact
Looking back, all four participants say the GBEP exchange has given them broader perspectives and stronger confidence in their ability to adapt and lead.
Lachlan leaves with a stronger belief in his skills and a commitment to keep learning from others. Ambika is taking home a reminder that how you build is universal – it is all about the people, and Hutchies has some of the best. Brian is championing better systems, stronger records and a culture that celebrates work‑life balance and team camaraderie. James is focused on keeping things simple, positive and people focused, with straightforward communication and strong team culture at the centre.
Together, their stories show how the GBEP exchange is not just about swapping countries, but about sharing ideas, strengthening partnerships and building better projects – and teams – on both sides of the world.