Solid Engineering: A Chat with Brad Kebblewhite, The Bloke Behind The Business

Solid Engineering: A Chat with Brad Kebblewhite, the Bloke Behind the Business

Ever wondered how hard work and dedication can transform a small business into a thriving medium-sized enterprise? We had a yarn with Brad Kebblewhite, the 42-year-old Managing Director of Solid Engineering, to get the inside scoop on how he took the reins of the company in 2017 with his business partner Trevor by his side and led it to new heights. Brad’s laid-back, friendly nature and genuine love for his team, family, and a good laugh make his story truly inspiring.

From Humble Beginnings to Big Opportunities

Brad’s journey with Solid Engineering is nothing short of a cracker. He started out as a paperboy at 13, worked at Macca’s, and by 17, he was juggling his HSC, working 40 hours a week as a crew trainer, and doing work experience at a real estate office. “I kicked off my full-time career in 2000 and owned my own estate business by 21,” Brad recalls with a grin. “After working in the mining industry for about 10 years and having over 15 years in business development, I started my own consulting business. Solid Engineering approached me to help them transition from a small to medium enterprise. It was a six-month contract, but about three months in, I was offered an opportunity to buy into the business. It was a perfect fit, and I could see the potential.”

Trevor, a boilermaker by trade and a long-time local, was one of the original founders of Solid Engineering. In recent years, Trev has semi-retired but remains a cornerstone of the company, sharing his deep industry knowledge and family-oriented values.

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The Growth Story

Growing a business from 14 to over 35 employees is no small feat. Brad reckons it’s been a mix of hard yakka, strategic planning, and plenty of laughs. “It’s been a lot of hard work mostly, LOL! But I set a plan for diversification, increased efficiency, and customer service that is second to none,” Brad says. “We focused on diversifying our customer base within the underground coal mining industry, expanding our product and service offerings, and moving into new sectors like infrastructure. It was a whole new challenge, and I had to learn some new skills very quickly.”

Brad’s humility is evident as he talks about his team. “Solid employs mainly engineers, boilermakers, fitters, and the like. I’m none of these, so I had to build and rely on a very strong team around me. I also engaged with other successful people, did a lot of research, and borrowed ideas from other industries. Thinking outside the box helped us develop practices that we could use in our business.”

Trevor’s experience have been invaluable in this growth journey too. “Having Trev around has been fantastic,” Brad says. “He’s seen it all and done it all. His input on projects and jobs have been lessons for all of us.”

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Building a Family-Like Team

A strong team culture is at the heart of Solid Engineering’s success. “Honestly, it sounds cheesy, but the team gets on like a big family, and that’s no mean feat with 35+ people,” Brad says, his eyes lighting up. “I treat everyone like I’d like to be treated myself and would never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do. I have an open-door policy and encourage openness and honesty at all times. Sharing our company’s position and goals helps keep everyone aligned.”

Brad beams with pride as he talks about promoting from within. “Up-skilling and promoting from within has been crucial. For example, our Production Manager Danny, Workshop Manager Dan, and Mechanical Manager Daniel were all tradies in our workshop before moving into management. We also employ many apprentices, and seeing 15 and 16-year-old kids grow into hard-working young men with a trade is fantastic for our team culture. It makes me a very proud dad, not just at home but also at work.”

?Trevor, with his semi-retired status, continues to be a inspiration for the team. “Trev’s always there to offer advice and a helping hand,” Brad says. “He loves seeing the younger guys develop their skills and become leaders themselves.”

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Giving Back to the Community

Brad and his team are passionate about giving back to the community. “Most of our people are born and bred in the local community, and many can trace their local heritage back multiple generations,” Brad shares. “Recently, we donated custom hydrant spanners to the Quorrobolong Rural Fire Service. It was great to support such a dedicated volunteer organization. We’ve done similar things for the local SES and sponsor local sporting clubs like the Kearsley Crushers and the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs Rugby League Clubs.”

?Brad’s pride in supporting the community extends to their hiring practices. “Over 90% of our workforce lives within 20 minutes of our workshop. When we recruit, we always look for locals first. It’s a great way to support our community and also adds to our team culture. We also host work experience kids from local schools. This not only supports the community and education but also gives us an early look at potential apprentices.”

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Driven by Passion and Commitment

Brad’s drive comes from a deep passion for what he does and a commitment to his team and clients. “To be able to stand back after 11 years of Solid Engineering and 7 years under my leadership makes me very proud of our achievements. But I know there is still lots of room for improvement and growth, and that is what drives me,” he says humbly. “Working hard to support our team and serve our clients drives me, but most of all, my wife and kids drive me. Supporting them and setting a good example for my kids to follow is what motivates me.”

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Memorable Projects and Lessons Learned

When asked about memorable projects, Brad recalls a few standout moments with a twinkle in his eye. “One of the most memorable projects was in my first year at Solid and involved a large-scale overhaul of underground mining equipment. It was a massive undertaking, with over 1,000 man-hours of work in just 8 days between Christmas and New Year. Seeing the project come together and knowing the difference it made for our client was incredibly rewarding.”

Another project close to Brad’s heart was a Structure Trailer project for Airly Mine. “The mine contacted me about finding a solution for transporting and storing their conveyor structure more efficiently. I had an idea to double the capacity by using a trailer instead of a QDS Pod. My team took my sketch, drafted and engineered it, and brought it to life in our workshop. We built two of these trailers for the client, and they were ecstatic with the end result. They now move their conveyor structure in half the time!”

Brad’s humility and sense of humor shine through as he shares lessons learned. “I’ve had lots of kicks up the backside in life and many over the past 7 years at Solid. But every kick is a lesson to be learned, so take notice and try not to make the same mistake twice. Surround yourself with good, smart people who can guide and teach you. Talk to your accountant, your lawyer, and other business owners. Try and learn from other people’s mistakes so you don’t have to make them yourself.”

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Advice for Those Starting Out in Business

“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it,” Brad says with a chuckle. For anyone looking to start a business, he advises, “Be prepared to work hard. Seven days a week, 12 hours a day for at least the first few years. Have a vision, make a plan, be honest, learn from your mistakes (and you will make lots). But most of all, don’t give up.”

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Personal Life and Balance

Balancing a growing business with personal life is always a challenge. Brad credits his supportive family for helping him manage it all. “My family has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey. They understand the demands of running a business, and their support has been invaluable.” Brad continues, “People talk about work-life balance as separating work and personal time, but for me, the two can be combined in many areas. My schedule has to be flexible. Some weeks, the demands of projects at Solid mean I need to work more, and other weeks, my home schedule is hectic, so I have to be at home more.”

Brad’s commitment to a balanced life extends to his team. “In 2019, we implemented a 4-day lifestyle roster at Solid Engineering. Monday-Thursday with overtime shifts available on Fridays. This gives the team more personal time and provides great flexibility for the business when the workload requires it.”

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Looking Ahead

So, what’s next for Solid Engineering? “After considerable and sustained growth over the past 7 years, we are now looking to improve our efficiencies more, like the recent addition of our Laser and Plasma CNC machines. This has led to the setup of a processing division within our workshop, enabling us to keep more work in-house, giving us better control over costs, lead times, and quality.”

Brad’s journey with Solid Engineering, supported by Trevor’s foundational work is truly inspirational. His leadership and vision have transformed the company into a key player in the mining and infrastructure sectors. With a strong team and a commitment to quality, there’s no doubt Solid Engineering will continue to thrive and make a positive impact.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories from Solid Engineering!

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