Dec 6, 2007
Drawing on his many years experience in the building and mining industries, Brent Campbell founded a Western Australian-based electrical and air conditioning company in 2000. With his team of licensed tradespeople the business grew quickly with the company regularly servicing the needs of clients in the mining, education, real estate and commercial sectors. The business was thriving and revenue was increasing year on year. This was as good as it gets, or was it?
Reinvented, expanded and reformed
With the WA-led mining resources boom, Brent quickly realised
there were opportunities to expand his company’s services to this
sector, and also to other markets. Previously his company had
specialised in providing and maintaining the air conditioning
units, along with other general electrical services and
maintenance, for the transportable accommodation units used at mine
site camps in WA’s remote North West.
“Based on many years working on mine sites and discussions with my
clients, I saw a need for a higher quality, cost-effective
accommodation unit, which could be built much sooner than the
current units were taking,” said Brent. “We could construct
the units, and still provide all ongoing building, electrical and
air conditioning maintenance for the mine sites as we’ve always
done.”
And the opportunities didn’t stop there. The next generation
accommodation units would also be attractive to the hospitality
industry in the form of chalets at tourist holiday parks, as well
as servicing the commercial and education sectors—wherever quality,
temporary accommodation was required.
With early interest from existing clients, and the wider business
plan in place, Brent’s original company was expanded and reformed
as The Airlec Group of Companies and now provides a one stop shop
for building and maintenance needs for the mining, education, real
estate, hospitality and commercial sectors.
The Airlec Group of Companies consists of four key divisions:
- Airlec Mine Site Solutions
Mine site maintenance and accommodation, including construction and refurbishment. - Air Conditioning and Electrical
All electrical installations and fittings, including refrigeration and general air conditioning. - Airlec Property Services
Building repairs and maintenance for commercial and residential properties. - Xpanda
High quality, cost-effective accommodation solutions for every situation.
Airlec has amassed an impressive client list including Newcrest
Mining and Straits Resouces in the mining sector and LJ Hooker, The
Professionals and Raine & Horne in the real estate
market. One of the newest and biggest clients for the
property services division is Western QBE, which has selected The
Airlec Group to perform all customer property repairs for insurance
claims.
The Airlec Group currently employs 12 full time (typically
office-based) staff, and about 50 subcontractors, which are mostly
licensed tradespeople including electricians, refrigeration
mechanics, carpenters and plumbers. A portion of these
subcontractors operate on a fly in, fly out basis as they service
mining clients in remote areas of the State.
In true entrepreneur style, Brent Campbell, the Group’s Managing
Director, is always keeping his eyes on the horizon and looking out
for the next opportunity to grow the business. The Group
currently operates throughout WA, however, Brent already has plans
to expand nationally and possibly internationally.