Consultants report growing pains

摘要

IN CONVERSATION with the AJM, principals of some of Australia's leading mine consulting firms described buoyant trading conditions, ambitious growth strategies, and threats and opportunities stemming from the all-pervasive skills shortage. A number of the firms contacted had recently consummated major acquisitions, and some senior staff indicated that more of these were likely as Australian firms shouldered their way into overseas markets. However, principals of some other firms seemed set on organic growth, keen to preserve their independent, staff-owned status. While rates have generally gone up, some firms lamented the "commodification" of some services with engineering firms identified as the culprits. These firms, as new entrants to parts of the consulting sector, had introduced their competitive tendering ethos to clients.