Back to employers
Coates
Hire and so much more.
Since 1885, Coates has been supplying high-quality equipment to a range of industries, including construction, engineering, infrastructure, mining and resources, manufacturing, agriculture and major events.
When you join Coates, you’re joining more than just Australia’s leading equipment hire provider though. You’re joining an end-to-end solutions company that operates across five key areas:
- Equipment Hire
- Engineering Solutions
- Industrial Solutions
- Power & HVAC
- Training
Why Coates?
Proudly Australian-owned, Coates has a long history of supporting customers to deliver major projects, and an exciting future-focused on transformation, innovation and growth.
As a Coates employee, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits including:
- Competitive remuneration
- Flexible working arrangements
- Purchased extra leave program
- Supportive and inclusive team culture
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Volunteering opportunities through the Coates Foundation
Want to join our team?
We offer diverse and rewarding roles at our nationwide branches, state head offices and corporate office in Sydney.
Browse our current opportunities at careers.coates.com.au.
Our story
John Coates founded the company in 1885 to support Victoria’s growing gold-rush cities – and we’ve been supporting Australian industry ever since.
From our early days importing and manufacturing machinery, we evolved into an equipment hire firm and helped pioneer the rental business in Australia.
As we continued to expand our fleet to service the booming mining, infrastructure and construction industries, Coates Hire became the nation’s largest equipment hire company.
But we don’t just provide the tools and machinery. We provide an end-to-end solution – equipment rental and specialist engineering, industrial and training services, all under one roof.
In 2021, we changed our name to Coates.
Because we’re not just the country’s leading equipment hire company.
We’re also a company of problem-solvers. A well-oiled machine of engineers, installation experts, shutdown managers and trainers, equipped to take on any challenge.
From equipment hire and temporary works engineering to industrial shutdowns and training, you can trust Coates to provide equipment and expertise, whenever and wherever you need it.
What Coates Stands For
COATES FOUNDATION
Coates launches the Coates Foundation to make a positive difference through its current and future philanthropic work with national charity partners.
Sydney, Australia, November 23, 2021 – Coates, Australia’s leading equipment hire and solutions provider, has launched the Coates Foundation. The Foundation will provide strategy and structure to Coates’ philanthropic work and its approach to ‘giving back’ to the communities in which it operates.
Coates will also engage its employees and support their social responsibility efforts through employee giving, as well as volunteering opportunities with its selected charity partners.
Find out more here.
RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
Sydney, Australia, 31 March 2022 – In collaboration with Reconciliation Australia, Coates, Australia’s leading equipment hire and solutions provider, has unveiled its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) – Innovate RAP.
The Innovate RAP commences from this month and will focus on developing and strengthening relationships with First Nations peoples, engaging Coates’ employees and stakeholders in reconciliation, and developing and trialling strategies that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Prior to developing the Innovate RAP, Coates consulted with Reconciliation Australia as well as its key external partners including the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce in Victoria and the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Western Australia, the Clontarf Foundation and their own internal RAP committee.
“Reconciliation is a journey for all of us as Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation,” said Murray Vitlich, CEO, Coates. “At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Find out more here.
GREENER CHOICES
Sydney, Australia, 6 June 2022 – Coates, Australia’s leading equipment hire and solutions provider, has launched the Coates Greener Choices range of products for its customers.
“Coates Greener Choices range offers customers tangible opportunities to reduce emissions, improve efficiencies and commit to best practice environmental sustainability standards,” said Murray Vitlich, CEO, Coates. “As Australia’s leading equipment and solutions provider, we are focused on providing more sustainable equipment and solutions that support our customers sustainability goals and help guide our suppliers in making greener choices in product design and manufacture. We are committed to further developing our Greener Choice range of equipment and solutions and recognise that the criteria for inclusion in this range will continue to evolve as the industry advances and new technologies emerge.”
With more than one million pieces of equipment, Coates is positioned well to be the market leader in greener choice equipment hire and solutions.
Find out more here.
Working at Coates
With over 150 locations around Australia, we offer a large number of roles and opportunities. We are committed to working with each and every employee to map out stimulating career paths and training that help them reach their full potential. With departments across Engineering Solutions, Technology, Training, Equipment Hire and Industrial Solutions, learning and development opportunities are endless.
Our company Values (Care deeply, Be our best, Customer-focused and One Team) shape the culture of Coates and help us build a better future for all our stakeholders.
Meet Lily Grevett
Account Manager
“Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone’ is my advice to women thinking of joining the hire industry. There are so many opportunities, and Coates provides lots of support to progress your career. I was surprised by the number of women and the diversity of roles at Coates – it’s great to work with some really amazing women!
I moved from Operations to Sales five months ago. I debated a lot before applying, as I’d only been with Coates for seven months, but I’m proud that I took the leap. To succeed in sales, I think you need to be upfront and transparent, and always ask questions to understand your customer’s pain points and ensure you’re executing the best solution for them.
I wouldn’t be able to do my job without the support of my team and local branches. It really is like a work family, with people always willing to help and work as ‘one team’.”
Hailee Parker
Branch Manager – Roxby Downs
“Having worked in retail, I knew nothing about equipment when I joined Coates four years ago. I also struggled speaking to strangers on the phone. After two years as a Sales Coordinator, I spent nine months in a more senior relief role, which was instrumental in developing the skills I need in my current role. Now, I’m confident having tough conversations and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
I manage our busy branch in Roxby Downs, a remote town built to support BHP’s Olympic Dam mine. I always start the day with a pre-start meeting, then each day is different. One day might be back-to-back meetings; another day I might be coordinating mechanics or on site at the mine.
The isolation can be challenging sometimes, but I love it when all the pieces finally fall into place and we find the right solution for our customer. I also love managing our tight-knit team and seeing them achieve their goals.”
Meet Nathan Dawes
Driver
“During my six-plus years with Coates, my role has grown in responsibility and I’ve acquired my high risk work (HRW) licence. I’m primarily responsible for scaffold delivery and collection, as well as maintaining the scaffold yard. Safety is always paramount, and I’ve never worked for a company that focuses on safety as much as we do.
“No two days are the same and certain aspects of my job are reactive, so I always try to be prepared for the unexpected and communicate what I need. Attention to detail, active listening and managing deadlines are key to providing great customer service.
“The best thing about this industry is watching projects develop from start to finish. Whether large or small, it’s great to be part of that progression. Every day presents a new location and a new opportunity to showcase our products, and I enjoy working with our team to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
Championing Diversity
At Coates, we support gender equality and strive to create workplaces where everyone feels safe and welcome.
A culture of inclusivity matters to us. We know that people, organisations and communities are at their best when everyone feels included, can bring their true selves to work and openly share their different perspectives. We’re actively rolling out initiatives that support and build a diverse and inclusive culture, including:
- Empowering and supporting our people to work flexibly
- Improving gender representation and addressing unconscious bias
- Developing our future female leaders through the Leadership, Excellence and Performance (LEAP) program
- Implementing an organisational-wide cultural transformation program to further embed our company values: Care deeply, One team, Be our best and Customer-focussed
- Implementing our second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) ‘Innovate’ and delivering formal cultural awareness training
Empowering female leaders
By 2025, we want to ensure that 25% of our leaders are women. Coates’ annual LEAP program aims to develop our emerging female leaders in the early stages of their management careers. In 2020, the inaugural program graduated 20 employees, with three securing roles to further develop their career prior to the program’s completion.
Creating supportive workplaces
“As an engineer, most work is done within a team and usually you’ll find yourself as the only female on a project. I used to sit back and observe in group discussions, rather than provide input. Luckily, I’ve been able to overcome this challenge and work with a very supportive team within Coates who have always encouraged and made me feel comfortable to speak up.”
Jess Burke, Engineering Intern
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
As an Australian-owned business, we’re committed to developing respectful relationships and creating meaningful opportunities with First Nations peoples and communities.
At Coates, we recognise that reconciliation is a journey for us all – as individuals, families, communities and organisations. We’re still in the early stages of our journey but by implementing our second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) ‘Innovate’ and working with Indigenous-owned companies, chambers of commerce and not-for-profit organisations, we’re turning good intentions into meaningful action.
Supporting reconciliation
Since the launch of our ‘Reflect’ RAP in November 2020, Coates has created a solid foundation to support the national reconciliation movement. In March 2021, we commenced our ‘Innovate’ RAP and set key targets across three core areas:
- Cultural education – deliver formal cultural awareness training to over 90% of the workforce by 2024
- Employment – increase the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to 10% of apprentices and 2.5% of employees by 2025
- Procurement – increase the First Nations supplier pool to 5% of annual spend for two procurement categories by 2025
“At Coates, I love the fact that we’re embracing our culture, as every little bit of positive exposure makes a difference and helps us move forward. If we all embrace our history, we can all gain thousands of years of culture.”
Nathan Ross, Workshop Supervisor and proud Gamilaraay man
Partnering with the Clontarf Foundation
Coates has invested in a three-year national partnership with the Clontarf Foundation. The national not-for-profit organisation delivers school-based engagement programs, using sport as a hook, to improve the education, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
Our partnership helps support 137 academies across Australia, with more than 10,000 students enrolled. We also provide opportunities such as work experience and apprenticeships and have so far employed five Clontarf graduates.
There are currently no jobs available
Unfortunately there are currently no positions available at Coates, please check back soon.
