Social enterprise : making it work : a case for social procurement /

November 2011

The purpose of this report is to outline a case for social procurement based on experience in providing cleaning services on the Kensington Redevelopment. The report finds, based on the observations, management practices and benefits drawn from this project, that through the establishment or expansion of similar enterprises, housing estate services can be delivered at a market competitive cost and should be encouraged as a means for leveraging additional economic and social benefits off the delivery of estate services. These benefits include : deriving long term value through sound asset management practice in social housing environments ; contributing to community wellbeing and social cohesion ; reducing unemployment with the associated economic and social benefits.The existing commercial cleaning contract at Kensington provided an opportunity for Urban Communities and AMES to accelerate a social enterprise through investment provided through both federal and state government funding. The investment made available through the Federal Government Jobs Fund in 2009 provided seed capital to establish the enterprise at Kensington. The project also accessed training funds under an established program - the Victorian Training Guarantee (an initiative of the Victorian Government). As a result the enterprise was able to fulfill the service contract for Kensington whilst employing and training a number of long term unemployed job seekers. ; KENSINGTON REDEVELOPMENT

Social Enterprise Making it Work_2012.pdf