There’s No Place Like Home WITH PICHELMANN CUSTOM BUILDING SERVICES

Parry and Meike Pichelmann started Pichelmann Custom Building Services in 2005 after many years working in the residential sector, including working together for over ten years as a bathroom renovation team. Together, they have created a company founded on high-quality craftmanship, outstanding service and strong family values.

Parry discovered his enthusiasm for construction while completing a plumbing apprenticeship that started in the Australian Army and finished locally in Canberra. In contrast, Meike was destined to run a successful construction business after growing up watching her parents run their own plumbing company in Germany, where Meike earned her qualification as a Master Plumber.

In a twist of fate, Parry who was chosen to represent Australia at the International Vocational Skill Olympics in Osaka, Japan in 1985, met Meike, who was competing on behalf of Germany. At this stage, Pichelmann Custom Building Services was still two decades away, but the foundation of an unwavering passion for quality in construction was well and truly evident.

In 2017, the Pichelmann’s leadership team was expanded when Eugene Haigh and Tom Argaet became company directors.

For Eugene, this position was like returning home. He completed his apprenticeship and early years in the industry with Pichelmann Custom Building Services from 2006 until he started his own company in 2015.

Similarly, Tom started his apprenticeship with Pichelmann Custom Building Services in 2010 before deciding to venture off and start his own company. Like Meike, Tom is the second generation in his family to go into construction. Tom’s father worked as a stonemason, so Tom caught the construction bug at an early age. Even with his own company, Tom continued to complete the occasional project for Pichelmann’s until he was drawn back full-time in 2017.

Eugene and Tom were drawn back to Pichelmann Custom Building Services because of a mutual passion for quality carpentry as well as a deep respect for the company culture created by Parry and Meike.

Now, Parry and Meike’s daughter Lilly has also completed her apprenticeship in carpentry with the team, making her the third generation in Meike’s family to work in the construction industry. In 2020 Pichelmann added a maintenance & minor works arm to the business. Third generation carpenter and long time employee Steve Swift came on board as a director. Steve’s values and experience fit perfectly with the team, and he leads the maintenance and minor works crew with passion for unwavering customer service.

Despite the many awards under their belt and being featured in Open Homes Australia, the Pichelmann team are still more at home volunteering for BlazeAid, helping communities rebuild after bushfires, than they are in the spotlight. Their passion for training apprentices, and their great company culture will keep this team in good stead for even more generations to come.

The four generations of the Leemhuis family have all experienced being an apprentice over the years, which is a great example of the value of training. A great appreciation for high-quality training is a shared value between the Leemhuis family and the Training Fund Authority.

Brodie Leemhuis is the fourth generation in his family to go into the construction industry. Brodie commenced his Certificate III in Carpentry training with MBA Group Training this year. The Training Fund Authority have an important role in this process, through providing employer incentives for eligible apprentices in the 1st year of their apprenticeship.

The Training Fund Authority aims to create a more skilled workforce by increasing training opportunities through a number of valuable incentives including for the employers of apprentices. Training Fund Authority Liaison Officer, Mick Doyle, explains, ‘One of the great parts of my role is getting out onsite and talking to employers about the incentives available to them. I’m here to help industry members understand how to access these incentives and the ones that are applicable to them.’

Funding that the Authority receives is put back into the building and construction industry to strengthen local skills and training, ensuring workers have the skills to take advantage of the jobs available in the construction sectors.

If you’re unsure about if any incentives apply, pick up the phone and call a helpful member of the Training Fund Authority team on (02) 6262 5630.