13 August 2026
At Leed, we aim to leave a lasting legacy in communities beyond our project infrastructure, including providing opportunities and upskilling for local people.
During our Shepparton Clear Water Storage Tank project, we partnered with Sheforce to provide a pathway into the construction industry for Teigan Schoots. Sheforce is a specialist recruitment, labour hire and registered GTO (Group Training Organisation) that helps remove barriers to employment and create pathways for women into rewarding careers in construction. It is Australia’s first women-led social enterprise of its kind.
Teigan was employed as a site administration trainee for the project in 2025 and has now completed her traineeship and Certificate IV in Business—becoming the first Sheforce trainee to achieve this milestone.
From early nerves to a valued team member
Despite initially being a little nervous on day 1 of the job, Teigan quickly found her stride and soon learnt what she was capable of.
‘The best part has been gaining experience outside in the construction industry and learning new administrative skills each day. I’ve enjoyed being part of a supportive and fun team, seeing a large project come together while developing my confidence in the workplace has been awesome.’
Project Manager Tasman Scoles (pictured with Teigan) says: ‘It has been amazing watching Teigan grow and excel in her role. Whilst nervous to begin with, she took no time settling in with the entire team and has become an extremely valued member of the project.’
A valuable partnership
Our partnership with Sheforce demonstrates how a commitment to social procurement can create meaningful opportunities through our projects, supporting greater workforce participation while delivering positive outcomes for Australian communities. It’s also been great to deliver these types of outcomes for Shepparton as well as a critical piece of infrastructure for @Goulburn Valley Water.
As Tasman says: ‘Having the ability to impact the communities in which we work has always been a value of our team, being able to bring Teigan along for the journey and set her up for future positions within the construction industry has been very rewarding.’
Sheforce CEO Sally Caruana says: ‘Teigan’s completion of her traineeship is a significant milestone for Sheforce and a testament to the strong partnership we’ve built with Leed.
‘At Sheforce we are committed to removing barriers and creating structured pathways for women entering the construction industry. Teigan’s growth throughout the project reflects the impact of supportive site environments and intentional workforce development.’
The bigger picture
Working as part of the Shepparton team has also had broader benefits for Teigan.
‘Starting this role has helped me build a new regular routine, continue to improve my organisational skills, and gain more valuable experience over time. Outside of work, it’s given me more confidence in myself and my ability to take on new opportunities.
And her advice for others who might be considering a new job outside of their comfort zone?
‘It’s okay not to know everything on day one because you’ll learn as you go. Ask questions, be confident, and enjoy the experience, it will be worth it.’