Social Traders announced this week that Business and Government Members spent $222m with Certified Social Enterprises over three years.

Importantly, this spend generated a wide range of impacts:

• 1,430 jobs supported
• 379k training hours delivered
• $13.3m in community goods and services delivered
• $2.5m donated to charity
• 5k tonnes of waste diverted from landfill

Social Traders CEO, Mike McKinstry, said: “What’s exciting is that the take-up and impact of Social Enterprise Procurement is only growing. Our membership has almost doubled every year and that trend isn’t slowing down. It’s very rewarding to be able to show what’s possible through Social Enterprise Procurement as it picks up pace as a global movement.”

To date, Social Traders has certified over 450 Social Enterprises and has over 120 Business and Government Members. That represents 136% growth over four years.

Social Traders is leading Social Enterprise Procurement globally, with Australia experiencing a faster rate of growth than other parts of the world.

Social Traders has ambitions to scale Social Enterprise Procurement around the country.

Mr McKinstry said: “Our mission is to more deeply integrate Social Enterprise into supply chains throughout Australia. By 2030, we want to enable 260 Business and Government Members to spend $5.5b with 1,050 Certified Social Enterprises. That will enable social enterprises to create over 44,000 jobs, deliver 6 million training hours, and deliver $128m in community services and donations.”

To help fast-track the take-up of Social Procurement, Social Traders has released a new national directory of Certified Social Enterprises – Social Enterprise Finder – along with a new brand and website.

The new branding and digital presence is designed to put a spotlight on all the organisations unlocking business for good – Certified Social Enterprises and the businesses and governments that buy from them. It was produced pro bono by branding agency Taylor and Grace.

Mr McKinstry said: “Working together, we will create a more inclusive and equitable Australia. This is just the beginning.”