b'KENNARDS HIRE Since 1948TAKING HIRE HIGHER | 78rank amongst the best in the business, Pete said. We have severalWhile the term culture was bandied around in those days byof them with us on this trip and I hope they will help me spreadmany companies without much substance behind it, Kennards Hires the word back home that the entire company has helped make thisculture had developed naturally over the years. As the business award possible and they should feel very proud. continued to expand, the leadership team recognised the need to formally define and communicate the companys culture to new WHO PUT THAT TRUCK THERE? hires. The business leaders couldnt just assume that new people Gareth Vines, South Australian general manager, tells a terrifyingwould instinctively understand the companys valuesthey had to story about the Darlington branch in the early 2000s. A truckactively work to preserve and uphold Kennards Hires roots.carrying hot soda ash was traveling down a hill when its brakes failed. The out-of-control truck crashed through an intersection,A few years earlier, Kennards Hire executives had participated in went through a fence, and smashed into the Kennards Hire branch,a three-day workshop series to define The Kennards Way. The hitting several machines as it careened through the back of theworkshops examined the companys philosophy, principles and building all the way to the front counter. practices. They also discussed topics including managing change, giving praise and criticism, and determining the level of influence that It was 5.16 pm, Gareth says, the time etched into his brain. FifteenAndy and Nev should have in the daily operations of their respective minutes earlier, employees were standing at that counter where thebusinesses. The workshops provided an honest and thorough smoking, mangled truck ended up. evaluation of the companys culture, what had and had not workedin the past, and how to attract and retain the right people. Fortunately, no-one was severely injured, but the driver of the truck was unconscious and had to be taken away by ambulance. For theOne quote that particularly resonated with Andy was from next ten hours, Kennards Hire staff worked tirelessly to make theentrepreneur Bob Ansett, Employ ordinary people and train thembranch safe and secure, with the help of the police and the stateto achieve extraordinary things. Although it didnt happen overnight, emergency service. The team rallied around, with managers andthe workshops helped ensure that everyone was on the same page.other staff members coming down to help clear the debris and make the branch safe for trading the following morning. A BIT LESS BLOKEYIn 2000, Kennards Hire appointed Penny Burke as its first female It was a surreal and terrifying experience for everyone involved,director. Andy recognised the value of diversity in leadership and Gareth says, but it could have been so much worse. specifically sought out a woman with a marketing background to join the team. It might have been daunting coming into such a THE KENNARDS WAY blokey space, but Penny took it in her stride. Andy has always been New acquisitions and branch openings across the country werevery good at recognising what he doesnt know and taking steps to showing no signs of slowing down, and Kennards Hire sought tobring the right people into the business, she says. And back then, provide job stability and career development opportunities for theirthey didnt really have anybody in senior management who had current employees and attract new hires who aligned with themuch idea about a womans perspective, though they knew it was companys vision, values and culture. Retaining and attracting topoften the woman making decisions in a DIY situation.talent was crucial for the companys future.'