C O M P A N Y O V E R V I E W
Cooke & Dowset
Cooke & Dowsett: The Future Strength in Plumbing
From fathers to sons, Cooke & Dowsett has evolved plumbing industry through an experienced crew and Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano Produced by: Bryan Giles
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Bendigo Hospital Progress (image courtesy of Bendigo Health webcam)
Chadd Cooke and Scott Dowsett shared similar interests, similar upbringings, and up into their early business days, similar apprenticeships. Their fathers began a company named Cooke & Dowsett in 1970 Scott left the family business in 1992 to start his own business and Chadd stayed within the family business up until July 2007 when he left and went across to Scott to form again the name Cooke & Dowsett in 2008 of which was the company name their fathers started in the early 70s,” said Chadd Cooke, Director of Cooke & Dowsett. “I guess you 171
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could call this evolution.” Evolution would be the ideal word to describe this transition because since the restructure Cooke & Dowsett has completed numerous prestigious and innovative projects both on the East and West Coast of Australia. With works being completed on projects in every state, Cooke & Dowsett is the only recognized national plumbing organization currently in the marketplace. Most recently, the company was awarded the recognition of “Commercial Plumber of the Year 2013/2014” at the Association of
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Darwin Airport Qantas Club Lounge
Hydraulics Services Consultants. “It’s recognition from our peers that we are doing something right out there amongst the industry,” commented Cooke. Trusted Ties When it comes to its workforce, Cooke & Dowsett takes a unique approach to ensuring its employees are well cared for. “The company is built on trust,” said Cooke. “There are a lot of employees that started with us back in 1992 that are still with us today. Our first ever apprentice is now one of our Senior Estimators within the
business. These are now the type of employees that we entrust to carry our culture into other states and help us manage our business nationally.” Cooke & Dowsett is also partnered with NUDJ Plumbing – an Indigenous Apprentices Program where aboriginal youth learn and gain plumbing trade qualifications. Dedicated to enriching the lives of aboriginal people through plumbing apprenticeship programs, apprentices can expect to find employment with NUDJ and the provision of labor hire through Cooke & Dowsett. “NUDJ plumbing is very close to
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Our expertise. Your needs.
At Rinnai, we design, test and manufacture innovative commercial hot water products that can be developed to suit your specific needs. Our state-of-the-art facility allows us to work quickly and efficiently, meeting your requirements with quality control that’s unsurpassed. - Our team of highly qualified technical engineers, along with local sales managers, are specifically trained to quickly determine the most cost effective solution to meet your objectives. - Our products, such as stainless steel tanks, collectors, frames, dual pump kits and flueing are manufactured in our South Australian facility. - Condensing technology with a thermal efficiency of 94% and /or solar thermal technology are all designed to significantly reduce the energy costs of heating water. - Sophisticated controllers are available with LCD displays and BMS fault outputs to enable easy management of your water heating plant.
www.rinnai.com.au
COOKE & DOWSETT
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both [Scott and Chadd] hearts and they are both very passionate about it. It’s about giving something back to indigenous Australia,” said Cooke. “NUDJ is a non-for-profit company that takes indigenous kids, both male and female, from the outback and brings them to Melbourne and trains them over a four year period and then after this four year period they have the opportunity if they wish to return home and continue their employment with NUDJ as a fully qualified plumber.” “Cooke & Dowsett were recently award by BRW Momentum Best Mid Market Leader for training the first
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ever Indigenous Female Plumber in Australia who is still currently working for NUDJ,” added Cooke. A Diverse Portfolio Thinking laterally, Cooke & Dowsett aims to deliver cost effective plumbing solutions to meet clients’ needs. Currently, Cooke & Dowsett is working on three major projects: The Bendigo Hospital, New Monash Children’s Hospital, and the Post Entry Quarantine Facility. Bendigo Hospital is the largest project Cooke & Dowsett has ever undertaken and will result in the state of Victoria’s largest regional
RINNAI AUSTRALIA
Industry: Sustainable commercial space heating and centralised hot water systems Services: Manufacture of purpose built commercial hot water systems offering reductions in energy usage. Installation and preventative maintenance via 1st Care. Ongoing Projects: Newcastle University – NSW, City West Police Complex – VIC, Thursday Island Hostel – QLD, South District Hospital – SA, BGC concrete tilt – WA, Quest Apartments Melbourne airport - VIC Management: Greg Ellis, Managing Director Richard Ford, National Commercial Manager Website: www.rinnai.com.au w w w. c o o k e d o w s e t t . c o m . a u
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Cooke & Dowsett Directors - Chadd Cooke & Scott Dowsett
hospital – a world class, stateof-the-art facility providing high quality health care for the greater Bendigo community. “We would like to think after four years of hard work we delivered a successful project for not only our client but the community of Bendigo,” said Cooke. The New Monash Children’s Hospital project is one of the biggest capital infrastructure projects underway to date for Monash Health. The hospital is one of only two tertiary pediatric 175
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facilities for Victorian children and their families as well as being the only location in Victoria which provides fetal surgery, thalassemia and pediatric care electro-physiology. The completed hospital will include more beds and services including 96 in-patient acute beds, 10 pediatric intensive care beds, 3 operating theaters, outpatient consulting rooms and allied health therapy spaces. “The New Monash Children’s Hospital is great to be involved in.” said Cooke. “It’s another
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high profile project for Cooke & Dowsett and great to give something to the kids when it’s completed.” Cooke & Dowsett also additionally completed the New Box Hill Hospital Redevelopment project – a $447.5 million project – turning it into a contemporary and technologically advanced health care facility for those living in the eastern region of Melbourne. “Not limited to the projects above but all our projects we undertake we would like to think give us some recognition within the industry of being a quality company with great service and one that can deliver on time and on budget,” summarized Cooke. Looking Ahead Cooke & Dowsett is always looking for opportunities that enable growth. “If [opportunities] present themselves and we are at the forefront, then we will take them,” said Cooke. Looking towards the new year, Cooke & Dowsett feels confident about their position in the industry. “I think the company heading into 2015 is in a strong position considering the market is quiet and margins are at an all time low,” said Cooke. “We just need to stay focused on what we do best and push through the tough times and hopefully come out the other end unscathed.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Keilor Park, Australia FOUNDED
1992 EMPLOYEES
200-500 REVENUE
$200 Million PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Cooke & Dowsett are a National Tier 1 Commercial Plumbing Company based in Melbourne, Victoria, with offices also located in South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and also operating in Tasmania and Northern Territory.
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Cooke & Dowsett Address 25 McGregors Dr Keilor Park, Victoria, Australia, 3042 Tel. +61 3 9365 7000 Fax. +61 3 9365 7099 info@cookedowsett.com.au www.cookedowsett.com.au/