Building Better Businesses: FTMA Introduces New Pilot Webinar Series

 

FTMA Australia is launching an exciting new initiative in the second half of this year, with the introduction of three Pilot Webinar Series designed specifically for the Frame & Truss industry. These exclusive programs have been developed to give business owners, managers and leadership teams practical tools, industry insights and direct access to experienced specialists who understand the unique challenges facing the sector today.

Each pilot program is strictly limited to just 10 companies, with up to three representatives able to participate from each business. The small-group format is intentional, allowing for meaningful discussion, personalised support and genuine collaboration between participants and presenters.

The programs are far more than a standard webinar. Each series combines monthly live online sessions with dedicated one-on-one coaching meetings, ensuring businesses can apply the lessons directly to their own operations and challenges.

The three pilot programs cover some of the most critical areas for modern Frame & Truss businesses: operational performance, business management, and sales and marketing.

Managing a Successful Frame & Truss Business

Presented by George Prothero – Chrisdar Consulting

 

George Prothero and FTMA CEO Kersten Gentle on stage at the 2026 FTMA National Conference.

This five-month series is designed for business owners and managers looking to better understand the financial and operational drivers of a successful Frame & Truss business. George Prothero brings decades of practical industry experience and will guide participants through the realities of running a more efficient and profitable operation. 

Across the five sessions, participants will explore:

1.    Understanding Your Business Costs 
2.    Relationships with the Supply Chain 
3.    Production Efficiency and Workflow 
4.    Managing People & Performance 
5.    True Costs of Transport.

 
The program focuses on practical frameworks that businesses can immediately assess and apply within their own operations. Topics include understanding cost recovery, improving workflow efficiency, reducing waste, strengthening supplier and builder relationships, and ensuring transport operations are profitable rather than simply treated as overheads. 

Following each webinar, George will spend up to one hour with each participating company in a private online session to discuss how the concepts relate specifically to their business. These one-on-one meetings are designed to help participants identify opportunities for improvement and develop more informed business decision-making processes. 
Cost per company: $2,000.

 

Operational Excellence for Frame & Truss Manufacturing

Presented by Damien Lacey – OE Partners

 

Damien Lacey of OE Partners presenting at the 2026 FTMA National Conference

This highly practical five-month program focuses on Lean Thinking and Operational Excellence specifically for Frame & Truss manufacturing businesses.
The series is designed to equip supervisors, managers and emerging leaders with the tools, systems and confidence needed to improve productivity, reduce waste and create a culture of continuous improvement within their plants.

Participants will work through:

1.    Lean Thinking for F&T Manufacturing 
2.    5S Workplace Organisation for F&T 
3.    Visual Boards & Daily Huddles for F&T 
4.    Structured Problem Solving for F&T 
5.    Value Stream Mapping for F&T.

 
Rather than passive learning, this series is built around implementation. Each month, businesses will learn one targeted lean tool and apply it directly within their operations before returning to share progress and lessons with the wider group.

Participants will also receive extensive support resources including:

•    Visual management templates 
•    Problem-solving tools 
•    SOP templates 
•    5S implementation resources 
•    Value stream mapping templates 
•    Team training slide decks 
•    A hardcopy Lean Six Sigma textbook.

 
In addition to the monthly webinars, each company will receive two hours of one-on-one coaching per month with a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, tailored specifically to the layout, workflow and challenges of their own plant.

The program concludes with a Month 6 Capstone Showcase, where each company presents the improvements and outcomes achieved throughout the series.

Cost per company: $3,500.

Sales & Marketing for Frame & Truss

Presented by Julia Hall – Twenty Nine Ideas

 

Julia Hall, Founder of Twenty Nine Ideas, presenting at the 2026 FTMA National Conference.

 

Presented by Julia Hall from Twenty Nine Ideas, this four-month series focuses on helping Frame & Truss businesses improve their visibility, strengthen customer relationships and develop practical marketing strategies that deliver results. 

The webinar series includes:

1.    Developing a Strategy for F&T 
2.    Marketing Basics for F&T 
3.    Customer Experience – The Builder 
4.    Golden Rules for Marketing Tactics.

 
Julia’s program is tailored specifically to the Frame & Truss sector and aims to help businesses better understand how builders make decisions, how to improve customer retention, and how to effectively market their services in an increasingly competitive environment. 

Topics include:

•    Traditional and digital marketing 
•    Customer relationship management (CRM) 
•    Builder insights and buying behaviours 
•    Social media and email marketing 
•    Website and branding strategies 
•    Marketing planning and change management.

 
Participants will also receive one-on-one strategy meetings to help tailor the lessons to their own business goals and challenges. 

The overall goal is to help businesses promote themselves more professionally, improve engagement with builders and ultimately help grow demand for timber construction solutions across the industry. 

Cost per company: $1,500.

 

Limited Places Available

These pilot programs are intentionally limited to just 10 businesses per series to ensure participants gain maximum value, engagement and direct support from the presenters.

Each program includes:

•    Monthly live webinar sessions 
•    One-on-one business support meetings 
•    Practical implementation tools 
•    Industry-specific learning 
•    Opportunities to collaborate with peers across the sector.

 
Businesses interested in participating are encouraged to register early, as places are expected to fill quickly.

Please note we have already received a number of registrations at the conference for each series, so get in quick to secure your place now. Ten companies only for each series.

 

Register for Webinars