19 February 2019

Following her architectural dream certainly has paid dividends for Stacey Holden, a Northern Beaches resident, who studied a Diploma of Building Design with TAFE Digital and now holds down not only one, but two jobs in the residential building sector she is so passionate about.

Mrs Holden said, “I have always been interested in architecture, but after school I did the responsible thing and studied business at university and worked in the banking and finance sector for 15 years. My husband and I own a business, PIMS Construction, and identified the potential to expand into design and construction as a team.”

Mrs Holden looked for an appropriate pathway into the industry and discovered that TAFE Digital offered the nationally accredited qualifications she needed. “By the time I was ready to commit to studying again, I had three children and was working full time,” said Mrs Holden. “I needed the flexibility to study when and where I could, so doing it online at my own pace was the perfect solution for me.”

At the outset Mrs Holden clarified that teachers would be readily accessible to talk through any issues. “The online resources, including guides and webinars, were on point in giving me valuable information I needed for research and assessments. There was also the option to see the teachers face-to-face, which I did on a number of occasions.”

Mrs Holden now works with her husband at PIMS Construction, their residential design and construct business and Your Beautiful Home, an all-female residential and design business operating out of a converted warehouse in Balgowlah.

“My work for PIMS Construction is in design and drafting. PIMS is the parent company, and my business “G Designs & Drafting” is part of this. Sometimes my husband takes the lead from a client and passes design work on to me, and sometime it works the other way and I am approached for design work which then turns into construction work for him.

Your Beautiful Home specialises in managing the whole new build or renovation process for residential clients. Mrs Holden’s role is building design from drawing up concepts, through to compliance and developing the design with working drawings for council submission.

“We are unique in that we can assist with the entire new build or renovation journey, from initial building design, through the council approval process, interior design, project management of the construction phase and then final decorating. Equally we're happy to assist with particular parts of the renovation process. Our client base is primarily made up of families with little time or inclination to manage a renovation themselves - we take the stress out of the entire process, making it an enjoyable and exciting experience,” said Mrs Holden.

Media contact: Bonny Gunn, TAFE Media Business Partner. Mobile 0417 134 048.