A message from CEO, Mike McKinstry
With 2022 kicking into gear I am reaching out to all of our sector partners about the year ahead. First, let’s reflect on the wins from 2021. Last year was a big one for many of us, and certainly at Social Traders we saw some exciting developments across the country, supporting our collective vision of a thriving social enterprise sector.
Social enterprise procurement is growing
Social Traders started 2021 strong by calling on Federal Government to back social enterprise, which was picked up by ABC news. We published our Impact Report highlighting the $222m total spend from our business and government members with certified social enterprises over a three-year period. The seminal State of Social Procurement report also launched, confirming that social procurement is a growing trend that's here to stay.
More governments are leading the charge
- The Victorian Government launched its new Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-2025, building on the strong foundation laid in their hallmark 2017 Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy, and committed to working with Social Traders and the sector to increase social procurement activity in the state.
- Queensland Government made a significant $8m commitment to the social enterprise sector, and also committed to Queensland Government Procurement working closely with Social Traders for the next two years.
- South Australian Government is recognising the role of social procurement in achieving positive social and environmental outcomes as well as economic contributions for the State, and have committed funding to support social enterprises to develop their procurement readiness.
- New South Wales is renewing membership with Social Traders, with a focus on increasing social enterprise procurement across the whole of NSW Government.
- ACT Government are working with us to activate and leverage their Social Traders membership and procurement policy.
We grew
We reached over 450 certified social enterprise and over 120 business and government members. Building on the momentum from the last 12 years, we recruited some fantastic people to our team, including new additions to our Executive Leadership Team.
We asked Australia to catch on
As well as launching the Social Traders new brand and reinvigorated vision and mission, we asked corporates across Australia to catch on to business for good. Some ideas are game changers and we think that buying from social enterprise is one of them. We called on business and governments to join the front runners for business for good, with an impactful video that attracted over 15,000 hits.
The outlook ahead
Alongside our social enterprise sector leaders, Social Traders joined the first Social Enterprise National Strategy Advisory Committee. We anticipate an even stronger social enterprise sector as we build a unified position to make social enterprise catch on across the country. We are also proud partners of the Social Enterprise World Forum, which will be held in Brisbane for the first time. The world forum will allow us to connect, share trends and insights and be inspired about what’s next for social enterprise and social enterprise procurement globally.
Our Vision 2030 plots our ambition for the next decade, with a bold plan to unlock $5b in demand for social enterprises in Australia, creating an estimated 44,000 jobs across the country. Let's make this year a turning point for business indefinitely, as more industries realise that doing good and doing business are not mutually exclusive.
Thanks to our partners and supporters for everything you’ve contributed towards this ambition already. Let's double down on our goal to build a more inclusive and equitable Australia.
Mike McKinstry
CEO, Social Traders
