No matter what the profession, there are many successful businesses in Canberra that bring the expertise of skilled and passionate people together to deliver for customers and clients.

A winning team always helps to make a business thrive.

In this feature, CityNews spoke with businesses that pride themselves on the professional environments their team creates.

Terry’s willing team thrives on helping people

“We give the public a sense of security,” says managing director of Independent Plumbing & Gas Fitting, Terry McEwen.

“We’re willing to do the extra job.

“Our team gets up and they’ll go from early morning to late night to help people out.”

More commonly known to the community as IPG, Terry has been managing the company since 2016. 

Initially starting as a plumber in 2007, Terry says the best part of his job is knowing his work is helping people. 

“Taking on new projects is fulfilling,” he says.

“Helping people is a fulfilling job.”

Terry’s work has been recognised, winning Local Plumber of the Year at the Master Plumbers of ACT 2022 awards. 

Since this award, Terry has been giving back to the community by sharing his expertise in plumbing. 

He says it’s important to support small and local businesses. 

“People are trying to utilise companies looking after the Canberra economy,” he says. 

“Local businesses give people security because they know us.

“We get people saying, ‘oh, I see your car around and want to use you’.”

Family run, Terry says plumbing is a constant learning process and is something he and his team are always striving to evolve with.

Independent Plumbing and Gas Fitting, Unit 3/157 Gladstone Street, Fyshwick. Call 0429 844131 or visit ipgcanberra.com.au

Olivia’s ‘family’ has a clear view of success

Proudly family-owned since 1986, Discount Glass is the longest established glazing business in Belconnen, providing Canberrans all their responsive and planned glass needs, says co-owner Olivia Rogan.

Discount Glass also instals quality pet doors, which allow easy access in and out of the home for cats or dogs without compromising the home’s security. 

Pet ownership has surged since the covid pandemic, and with Canberra’s cat-containment laws, Olivia says this is a particularly popular service and that each pet door they install is unique to the needs of the pet and the layout of the home. 

“Glass can make a big difference to the house in many ways people might not at first think,” says Olivia. 

“We install glass that helps with comfort, safety, practicality and decorative purposes.”

Winning the 2023 and 2024 Best Window Installation in Belconnen for the Quality Business Awards, Olivia says it’s their close-knit team environment that makes for an inviting and innovative solution for glass installation.

“Our team is like a little family in themselves,” she says.

“Our team goes out and they show they are happy and proud to represent Discount Glass.”

“We ensure everyone feels like their voice is heard, both internally and externally.”

“We’ve withstood the test of time and make sure we constantly strive to do our best.”

Discount Glass, 4 Purdue Street, Belconnen. Call 6253 1099 or visit discountglass.com.au

Gabrielle’s crew makes an artistic mark

“It’s about seeing my team win,” says tattoo parlour owner, Gabrielle Riley.

Owned and operated since 2019, Gabrielle has received awards as both a business and a business owner for Canberra Ink.

Named the Local Business award in 2023 (and a finalist in 2024), Gabrielle says it’s her team’s dedication to the community that makes Canberra Ink stand out from the crowd. 

“We’re not in it for the money,” says Gabrielle. 

“We are in it for the art and the clients. We are all locals trying to give back to the community.

“We pride ourselves on supporting the local economy and do lots of charity work within the community.”

Gabrielle credits the awards to her artists and the environment they’ve created. 

“It’s a really good culture,” she says.

“We are an equal opportunity workplace and are always teaching and learning.

“We are a family and our artists are committed to the clients.”

Creating a friendly environment for both staff and clientele alike was paramount for Gabrielle. 

“We know our clients have kids, so we’ve created a family friendly space where they can colour in and do activities.

“We also ensure that our artists are working family friendly hours.

“It’s all about seeing my team thrive as both artists and individuals,” says Gabrielle, who also offers work experience for budding artists. 

Canberra Ink, 2/68 Emu Bank, Belconnen. Call 0455 899766 or visit canberraink.com.au

Leah’s dogged team is ‘strong and diverse’

“Fresh air, exercise and puppies… What’s not to love?” says Leah Bach, doggy daycare manager at ACT Barks and Recreation Doggy Daycare. 

“We have put together a strong, diverse team that brings together a range of backgrounds and experiences working with dogs,” says Leah. 

The key to ensuring dogs are happy, healthy and walking away with new skills is small group play, says Leah.

“We are the only dog daycare that has Fear Free qualified staff,” she says. 

“We have purposefully designed our space, our program and the way we work with the dogs to create a calm and happy experience. 

“As a result we have had great success with dogs that experience some anxiety or have found other daycares too overwhelming.”

Finalists in the 2023 and 2024 Local Business Awards, Leah says she’s always looking for ways to give back to the community. 

“So far, we’ve donated to several local organisations as well as donating goods to ACT Pet Crisis Support, Rainbow Paws, Canberra Pet Rescue, Wombat Rescue, and RSPCA,” she says. 

Leah is also the proud host of the Dog Toy Library, an initiative encouraging people to hire jackets, toys and medical cones, to reduce the cost of items dogs may not use for long, further reducing landfill waste. 

Established in March 2023, ACT Barks and Recreation Doggy Daycare has grown from offering three days a week to five. 

141 Canberra Ave, Fyshwick. Call 0414 364194 or visit actbarksandrec.com

Steve’s team is driven to make a difference

“I love the fact that we are there to make a difference,” says Capital Road Safety Education CEO Steve Lake.

Steve heads a team of five highly trained driving instructors and 10 professional activity facilitators catering to a wide audience, ensuring their drivers feel comfortable and ready to hit the road.

Operating in two locations across Canberra, Steve says they offer a variety of courses to suit all levels of driving expertise from L-platers to experienced drivers.

Steve says the company has trained more than 100,000 drivers to feel safe, controlled and responsible on Australian roads. 

“It’s a critical role,” he says.

“We are making young people feel safe when driving, which encourages them to be responsible road users.” 

Steve, who has been in the industry for 24 years, says nervousness in new drivers is a common occurrence.

“Lots of young people get nervous,” he says.

“But we encourage them to come to us so that we can help ease their nerves.”

Steve says they provide programs through schools, even offering young people the opportunity to get behind the wheel in a controlled environment on a practice track.

Bookings can be made on their website, with Steve advising to book slots two weeks in advance. 

“We have lots of knowledge about road safety and are excited to share it with the community,” he says. 

Capital Road Safety Education. Call 6147 6296, or visit capitalroadsafetyeducation.com.au

 

A holistic approach to dentistry

Dentist Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne is a multi-award winning dentist, recognised in the industry for her special expertise in treating patients with dental anxiety and dental phobia.

She says Integrated Dental Canberra has both state-of-the-art equipment, such as the ability to produce same-day, high-quality crowns in-house, and a unique “comfort menu” designed to relax patients and provide a “spa-like” experience. 

The practice has a team of dentists skilled in the latest, high-end treatments and cosmetic dentistry, such as veneers, as well as general dentistry and links to allied health practitioners to assist with related treatments and therapies. 

“Our team takes a holistic view, which allows us to consider the whole person, not just their teeth and mouths,” she says. 

“This means we consider a whole range of factors such as anxieties, fears, shame and avoidance. These are things we all experience at different times in our lives around a range of issues and there is no judgement attached to them. But with care, we can tailor treatment plans to people’s needs.

“Our passion is to change the old paradigm that dentistry has to be painful and unpleasant. We aim to create a dental spa feel to our practice and space.”

In addition to simple empathy, compassion and human kindness, Integrated Dental Canberra has a broad menu of “comfort” options, including warm pillows, weighted blankets, noise-cancelling headphones, a full range of pain management options, a range of relaxation therapies and alliances with allied health practitioners. 

Integrated Dental Canberra, 5/16 Moore St Canberra. Call 6249 8551 or visit integrateddentalcanberra.au

Large range of native plants

Cool Country Natives stocks the largest range of native Australian plants in the ACT and surrounds, says owner Karen Brien.

With a dedicated team of knowledgeable staff, Karen says they’re happy to talk to customers and help them with any queries.

“Native plants are drought hardy and the choice is getting bigger every year with the increase of good wholesale growers,” she says.

“We specialise in local species as well as hardy and cold tolerant natives, and carry a large range of native plant varieties, ranging in size from tubestock to a growing range of advanced stock.

“Shoppers can find groundcovers, grasses, ferns, climbers and small-to-large shrubs and trees such as acacia, banksia, crowea, daisies, ferns and grevillea.”

Cool Country Natives also stocks and propagates a range of species local to the Canberra region.

“Our growth from humble beginnings has been steady and reliable and assures us of the popularity of native plants in our area,” says Karen

“Ask us to try and source that hard to find plant.”

Cool Country Natives, 5A Beltana Road, Pialligo. Call 6257 6666, email retail@coolcountrynatives.com.au or visit coolcountrynatives.com.au