Social enterprises

Understand what is a social enterprise

Social enterprises meet the 5 global standards set by social enterprise peak bodies over the world:

• They exist to solve a social or environmental problem.
• Prioritise their purpose, over profit in operational decisions.
• Have a self-sustaining revenue model.
• Reinvest the majority of any surplus towards their purpose.
• Their legal structure and financing lock-ins purpose long term.

They trade to intentionally tackle social and environmental problems such as:

• Improving communities and the environment.
• Providing people access to employment and training.
• Redistributing profit to generate funds for social programs or projects.

Procurement from social enterprises provides significant opportunities for social change for disadvantaged Australians.

Social enterprises operate in every industry

Social enterprises like any other business work in every sector of the NSW economy.

They are technology companies that create meaningful jobs for people who are homeless, they are consulting companies who provide expert advice and solutions for disaster relief, and they are environmentally conscious aerial survey companies that also redistribute their profits to further environmental sustainability in NSW.

Social enterprises are everywhere and are a growing force for real social and environmental impact.

Social enterprises are supported by policies

Some social enterprises are small to medium businesses (SMEs), Aboriginal businesses and Australian disability enterprises.

This means they qualify for preferences and exemptions under:

• Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Procurement Policy
• Aboriginal Procurement Policy
• Public Works and Procurement Regulation 2019.

Find a social enterprise

Suppliers that meet the 5 global standards of a social enterprise have a verified social enterprise tag on supplier hub.

NSW Government buyers can log in to Supplier Hub to search the list of verified social enterprises.