Hicks Civil and Mining
Hicks Civil and Mining has grown from a one-person operation into a leading Aboriginal-owned contractor, now scaling further in both capabilities and locations to deliver larger contracts, support community and strengthen cash flow.
Need
To support its growth ambitions and deliver larger contracts, Hicks Civil needed access to a higher-value bonding facility to meet the performance and warranty contract security requirements for several major projects in Western Australia.
Solution
We provided Hicks Civil with the bonding solutions it needed to cover performance and warranty obligations under its contracts, freeing up cash flow, strengthening its market competitiveness and providing its clients and stakeholders with the security ahead of successful delivery.
What began in 2010 with Peter Hicks as a one-person operation and a single six-wheel tipper has grown into one of Australia’s standout Aboriginal-owned civil and earthworks businesses, now entering its next phase of growth with our backing.
Founded by Peter and Lisa Hicks, Hicks Civil was built on decades of hands-on industry experience and a clear vision: to deliver high-quality civil works while creating greater opportunities for Aboriginal people.
As demand has grown, so too has the business. Today, leadership has transitioned to the next generation, with Peter’s daughters now leading the business as a female, family-led operation.
The transition has been deliberate and earned, with Caitlin Hicks Forshaw, now Chief Executive Officer, and Keryn Kalzee, Corporate Services Director, working their way up through the business, gaining industry experience and deep operational knowledge. This continuity has allowed Hicks Civil to grow without losing its culture, while also positioning the business to compete with much larger contractors.
Now that Export Finance Australia has provided us with the bonds on our projects, it allows us to utilise our other financiers in a more effective manner from an operational and risk mitigation front. It opens up a better cash flow strategy for the business to be able to push beyond a mid-tier contractor level. It’s been an incredible journey so far.
Caitlin Hicks Forshaw
CEO of Hicks Civil and Mining
In just over a decade, Hicks Civil has grown from a small business to a multi-million-dollar, award-winning company, grounded in a strong set of values that have set it apart in what can be a challenging industry.
A partnership built on trust and transparency
Until 2019, the business operated entirely on a self-funded model, reinvesting profits to support long-term growth. While this approach built a strong foundation, it limited the flexibility needed to take on larger opportunities. As the business expanded, it began accessing finance through another government-backed financier, enabling it to take on larger projects and continue its growth trajectory.
As project sizes increased, so too did the bonding requirements needed to deliver them. It was this change that led Hicks Civil to explore a larger bonding solution aligned with its strategy.
“I feel like our world just opened up tenfold when we became aware of what Export Finance Australia does,” explained Caitlin.
With our bonding support in place, the business was able to confidently deliver on larger contracts, including opportunities with major mining clients, while also freeing up working capital, improving liquidity and cash flow flexibility across multiple projects.
Rather than a transactional experience, Caitlin described the process working alongside our team as collaborative and open, with Hicks Civil able to speak candidly about both strengths and challenges, to find solutions that made sense for the business.
“It has freed up our direct cash flow, given us the ability to re-strategise to capitalise on our position in the market and enabled us to build a larger profile with the major resource companies, who understand that we have the backing and confidence of various financial institutions, specifically Export Finance Australia.”
Today, Hicks Civil is focused on long-term planning, supported by a partnership that provides confidence and flexibility as the business continues to grow.
“We don’t see this as a short-term relationship at all,” Caitlin said.
