Social Enterprise News

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution recognising that "social entrepreneurship, including cooperatives and social enterprises, can help to alleviate poverty and catalyse social transformation by strengthening the productive capacities of those in vulnerable situations and producing goods and services accessible to them"

The resolution also encourages member states (including Australia) to "promote and implement national, local and regional strategies, policies and programmes for supporting and enhancing the social and solidarity economy as a possible model for sustainable economic and social development".

As we all work together across the country and the globe to bring social enterprise to the fore, these policy changes help to make our case at all levels of government.

The full resolution can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gGipDk-r

If you are a Brisbane based business, through the Brisbane Business Hub you can book one on one mentoring with Brisbane's experts.

From strategic insights on money and marketing to tips from experts across every industry and sector in Brisbane are available to help you chart your pathway to growth.

Browse the mentors via the link below and request a complimentary one-on-one booking directly. Look out for the social enterprise experts on the panel, including our CEO Elise Parups.

Find out more:

https://businessinbrisbane.com.au/mentoring/

Emerge is looking for the next generation of great Queensland social enterprises! This is your chance to make your social enterprise idea happen, for your idea to EMERGE, so it can make a positive impact for our community.

emerge is a fully subsidised program supported by the Social Enterprise Sector Development Grants and run by the social enterprise experts at StartSomeGood.

That means it’s at no cost to you.

You just bring your creativity, courage and commitment.

We bring the community, the hard-won wisdom and the clear roadmap you can follow to create a launch-ready social enterprise.

This 10 week course is free to thanks to the funding support from the Queensland Government.  Don’t miss this opportunity to take your idea to the next level and make a difference!

Find out more here:

https://emerge.startsomegood.com/

White Box Enterprises has announced plans to establish a $5 million patient capital fund. The Sustainable Employment Loan Fund (SELF) is aimed at providing low-cost finance for jobs-focused social enterprises in Australia. 

The fund will help create more employment opportunities for disadvantaged Australians by offering loans ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

“Access to capital is one of the biggest barriers jobs-focused social enterprises face when it comes to their growth,” said Luke Terry, CEO of White Box Enterprises. 

“While impact investors face the challenge of finding high impact, low risk social enterprises to invest in, it’s our aim to bridge that gap.”

The Westpac Foundation will contribute $500,000 towards the establishment of the fund. As well as committing an additional $1 million in first capital loss once White Box raises $4 million. 

“Westpac Foundation has been supporting jobs-focused social enterprises for over 15 years. Like us, they recognise the social and economic contribution these businesses make, as well as the barriers they face. It’s great to have their support for this project,” said Luke.

White Box will collaborate with other investors focussed on catalytic impact. The aim is to match the provision of affordable finance, on flexible terms, while also paying investor returns. 

“To advance jobs-focused social enterprise in Australia we need to find ways to unlock new opportunities for these businesses. We’re excited to support White Box as they explore this new funding model.” said Amy Lyden, CEO Westpac Foundation.

This is not White Box’s first attempt to create a loan fund.  In 2019 they attempted to raise $50 million for a similar project. Luke recognises they may have been too bold, and approaches this raise with more pragmatism. 

“We need to continue to challenge current approaches and explore new ideas if we are to mainstream social enterprise.” Luke says. 

Working with an Industry Workforce Advisor can help you plan your workforce, find solutions to employment challenges, and connect with programs, incentives and funding opportunities. 

The Industry Workforce Advisor program aims to provide workforce planning assistance to employers in small and medium sized businesses, enabling them to address workforce challenges, diversify their workforces, and support workforce growth. 

Learn more here!

Here's the link to the expression of interest form, if you'd like someone to reach out.

It's back! Expressions of interest for the Snow Entrepreneurs - fellowships for social change are now open.

Are you an up-and-coming social change leaders that are making a meaningful difference to at-risk populations.

Entrepreneurs will receive funding of $100,000 to $250,000, as well as tailored support, including one-on-one mentoring, a diagnostic assessment and business advisory services delivered by the Social Impact Hub plus a 12-week interactive educational program run by Antler venture capital fund.

For eligibility and applications, take a look here: https://www.snowfoundation.org.au/grants/snow-entrepreneurs/

Last week, Parliament House held an event centered around social enterprise. It was great to bring together Federal MPs, advisors, public servants and leaders from social enterprise and philanthropy. Our CEO Elise Parups attended to represent Queensland Social Enterprises.

Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, gave a fantastic address. Bec Scott, CEO at STREAT and Co-convenor at Moving Feast spoke about the gains, ambitions and need for collaborative sector infrastructure.

Australia faces social, environmental, and economic challenges that demand new responses. The social enterprise sector can help, and a social enterprise national strategy is needed, powered by partnership between the sector and government.

Other resources that continue this conversation can be found below.

• Business for Good: The size and economic contribution of social enterprise in Australia
• Dive deeper on the impact of social enterprises through Pace (Profile of Australia’s certified social enterprises) 
• Understand what the sector needs through Social Enterprise Australia’s 2023-24 Pre-budget submission: a budget to unlock the impact of social enterprise
• Learn about the opportunity of social procurement and the importance of social enterprise certification in Social Trader’s 2023-2034 Pre-budget submission: a better future through social enterprise

QSEC joined five hundred of Australia's brightest and boldest minds, including community and business leaders, sports stars and youth representatives, who came together in Brisbane on 22 March to help shape the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Plan. 

Key questions included: Should we create a Legacy Forest to create a living landmark for sustainability? Do we build an Olympic Walk connecting Woolloongabba, South Bank and the CBD? Do we introduce Volunteer Passports to drive volunteer participation in the lead up to the Games and beyond?

These ideas raised by delegates, along with more than 12,000 ideas from the Hopes and Dreams survey, will now be collated and analysed in a public consultation paper. 

The Legacy Committee will be asking for feedback to have your say on the emerging themes and ideas put forward from next month. 

 

Published Wednesday, 22 March, 2023 at 02:30 PM

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
The Honourable Di Farmer

• 42 organisations across Queensland will share in almost $900,000 in Social Enterprise Growth Grants.
• The successful recipients from Cairns to Burleigh Heads will receive grants of up to $25,000 to purchase equipment, resources, and business advisory services.
• Round two of the Social Enterprise Growth Grants is now open.

The first round of the Social Enterprise Growth Grants will see a host of diverse organisations share in $894,000 to help their business grow or improve its social impact.

The second funding round for 2022–23 is now open, and offers grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to established, eligible social enterprises.

Social Enterprise businesses have a social purpose in their delivery. They may well be for profit but all are for a common good. 

Creating a more diverse workforce is a focus of the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 and these grants will contribute to that.

Applications close on 27 April 2023.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer

“The Social Enterprise Growth Grants initiative is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Social Enterprise Jobs Fund, and an $8 million two-year commitment.

“We’re backing social enterprises that support jobs, are investing in skills and protecting the environment.

“Thanks to a first round grant Cairns’ Far North Queensland Food Incubator will be able to increase the services it offers. The Food Incubator services food entrepreneurs with mentoring, training, resources and events to develop and showcase small scale and start-up food focussed businesses, producers and manufacturers.

“Happy Paws Happy Hearts in Wacol will now be able to purchase digital equipment under the program to promote and expand its support to job seekers, who gain work experience and life skills through their animal care programs.

“Lovewell Café in Mount Gravatt, which supports women who are rebuilding their lives, will be able to implement strategies that will help the business grow and enable it to employ and support more women by providing them with access to training and mentoring as they transition to further employment in the community.

“Townsville’s Life Skills Queensland (LSQ), will now be able to purchase new machinery that will increase its ability to produce more DIY project kits for sale. The boost in sales will mean it can continue working with people with disability and mental health conditions, veterans and disadvantaged youth and provide them with more opportunities for employment and to learn new skills.

 “First round grants will enable the Cookery Nook at Nudgee, which provides employment to people with disability, to purchase a coffee cart and expand its operations.

“The Palaszczuk Government recognizes the importance of social enterprises and their role in providing meaningful employment for all Queenslanders regardless of their abilities or circumstances and the above are just a few examples of funding being put to good use.

“I thank our social enterprises for their commitment to a diverse workforce and encourage others to apply for a round two grant.”

For the full list of grant recipients visit: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/future-skills-fund/social-enterprise-grants

A new report urges social enterprises to better support and value First Nations businesses, laying out practical recommendations for change.

Read the full article here: Social enterprise sector failing Indigenous businesses - PBA (probonoaustralia.com.au)