Mitchell Stokoe (Founder of Slimline Excavations) | Jimmy Talks Construction

What does it really take to build a successful construction business in Australia? And at what point does the cost of success become too high? This week on Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Luke Said, Managing Director of Impact Build, a custom home building company specialising in bespoke homes, extensions and renovations across Victoria's Macedon Ranges. From starting out as an apprentice carpenter to running his own building company, Luke shares the lessons, mistakes and sacrifices that have shaped his career. Jimmy and Luke get into the realities of running a construction business, Australia's struggling housing market, the next generation of tradespeople, AI and automation, and the challenge of growing a company without sacrificing family life. They cover: The hard lessons of starting and growing a building business Why Australia's housing and construction industry is under pressure Apprentices, work ethic and accountability AI, automation and the future of construction Building a team you can actually trust The sacrifices behind business growth Why some of the best opportunities come during difficult times

From a burnt-out D6 dozer to a civil construction business operating up to 50 machines and employing 70 people, Asha Russell built Sage Civil Australia through determination, relationships and years of hard work. But after years of building her business, mounting financial pressures, missed contracts, difficult weather conditions and rising operating costs brought her to one of the toughest decisions of her career. In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Asha Russell, Managing Director of Sage Civil Australia, for an honest conversation about the realities of running a construction business in Australia. She also opens up about selling personal assets to support the business, entering a small business restructure, and eventually deciding to significantly downsize her operations. They discuss: Building a civil construction business from the ground up Growing to 50 machines and 70 employees Losing major contracts and managing financial risk The impact of rising costs, wet weather and cash-flow pressure Why construction businesses are struggling in Australia Mentoring women in the civil construction industry The personal sacrifices behind running a business Why Asha ultimately decided to step away from day-to-day operations This isn't just a story about construction equipment and big projects. It's a conversation about resilience, knowing when to change direction, and what success really means when the business you've built becomes your identity. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for honest conversations with the people building, running and shaping Australia's construction industry.

Why is it becoming so difficult to do business in Victorian construction? Annie Kessel, Executive Director of the Civil Contractors Federation Victoria, joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction for a wide-ranging conversation about the pressures facing contractors across the state — from fuel prices and rising costs to government red tape, labour shortages, housing, infrastructure and the future of the construction workforce. James and Annie discuss the reality of trying to operate a construction business in Victoria, including the impact of fuel costs, material and labour increases, delays through authorities and approvals, uncertainty around infrastructure pipelines and the challenge of getting the industry's voice heard by government. They also get into the growing skills shortage, why apprentices are often the first to disappear when the industry slows down, the number of experienced contractor owners approaching retirement and what construction needs to do to attract the next generation. Topics include: • Why construction businesses are under increasing pressure • Fuel prices and fuel tax credits • Government red tape and approval delays • Victoria's infrastructure and housing pipeline • Rising labour and material costs • How CCF represents contractors to government • The construction skills shortage • Apprenticeships and attracting the next generation • The importance of face-to-face relationships in construction • Building stronger industry communities • The future of civil construction in Victoria

Jed Coinu from CUDA Group joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about leaving school in Year 10, going straight into a carpentry apprenticeship and eventually building his own construction and maintenance business from the ground up. What started with flyers, Facebook community pages and literally walking into shopping centres asking for work has grown into CUDA Group — a business servicing shopping centres, schools, hospitals and industrial sites across a wide range of maintenance, construction and small-scale civil work. Jed talks honestly about the realities of starting young, earning trust when people question your experience, doing the jobs nobody else wants, quoting quickly, chasing work and why the hard years of an apprenticeship can shape the way you operate later in business. The boys also get into scaling a construction business, hiring the right people, knowing what roles to delegate, staying close to your strengths, work-life balance, working ridiculous hours and why there is still no shortcut to building something successful. They also discuss AI and technology in construction, where automation might actually make a difference, why blue-collar work is harder to replace and how software is already changing the way contractors quote, manage jobs and handle paperwork. Another proper conversation about construction, business, apprenticeships and the people behind the industry.

Craig from EDI Tree Services joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about building a tree business from the ground up, surviving cancer as a teenager, leaving school early and eventually finding a career he genuinely loves. What started with mowing lawns and taking on the occasional tree removal has grown into EDI Tree Services — a Mount Gambier-based operation handling residential, commercial and large-scale vegetation management work across the Limestone Coast and beyond. Craig talks honestly about the realities of running a trade business: hiring good people, competing with unqualified operators, knowing when not to grow, expensive mistakes on site, insurance claims, machinery fires and why he still wants to be out doing the work rather than sitting behind a desk. The boys also get into the future of the arboriculture industry, training standards, licensing, construction accidents, the importance of having the right people around you and some of the jobs that don't quite go to plan. Craig also shares his involvement in the Shitbox Rally, taking a $1,500 car thousands of kilometres through the Australian outback to raise money for cancer research. Another proper conversation about construction, business and the people behind the industry. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with people across construction, civil, earthmoving, trades and infrastructure.