Why plan for social and sustainable outcomes?
Planning builds a supplier’s ability to deliver social and sustainable outcomes. This can help them win more business.
Learn which social and sustainable outcomes apply
There are 10 objectives in the Social Procurement Framework.
Buyers select from these objectives when they prepare Invitations to Supply.
By learning about these objectives, suppliers can cover them in their tender response.
Develop supplier strengths
As part of their planning, suppliers can look at the work they do and note what they do well. They can answer questions such as:
- Do we have an environmental policy?
- Do we have a safe working policy?
- Do we have a fair and inclusive employment policy?
- Do people from diverse groups work for us?
- Do we buy from diverse suppliers?
Suppliers can develop a business model that works on these strengths. They can create new strategies to strengthen social and sustainable outcomes.
Partner with firms that can help
Suppliers can build their social and sustainable outcomes strengths in 2 ways:
- within their business
- by partnering with other firms that specialise in social and sustainable outcomes
Examples of these partners include:
Employment services can connect suppliers with people who face barriers to working.
Suppliers can get access to job-ready employees through Jobs Victoria.
The building a career in the construction industry case study is an example of this.
Plan for social and sustainable outcomes
Planning lets suppliers:
- spread actions out over time
- track progress
- describe how social and sustainable outcomes fit into their business as usual activities
Building capacity
There are some organisations that help suppliers build their ability to deliver social and sustainable outcomes.
The Support for suppliers page has more details.
Other ways of building capacity include:
- developing a fair and inclusive employment policy
- developing an environmental policy
- building relationships with employment services
- subcontracting to social benefit suppliers
- subcontracting to other mainstream suppliers
Develop a fair and inclusive employment policy
A fair and inclusive employment policy helps suppliers find jobs for:
- Aboriginal Victorians
- Victorians with disability
- people who face barriers to getting a job such as migrants and refugees
These policies need flexibility to work. They help staff to work to their full potential.
The Business Victoria website helps suppliers recruit and plan their workforce. You can also access templates that support business planning.
Develop an environmental policy
An environmental policy is good for business. It helps suppliers to:
- achieve cost savings by reducing energy and water consumption
- manage waste and improve resource recovery
- improve work health and safety
- improve their business reputation
Build relationships with employment services
Employment services connect suppliers with job seekers.
Jobs Victoria helps suppliers find job-ready employees from target groups.
The building a career in the construction industry case study is an example of this.
Subcontract work to social benefit suppliers
Subcontracting to social benefit suppliers creates:
- employment opportunities for priority Victorian jobseekers
- business opportunities for social benefit suppliers
Social benefit suppliers employ:
- Aboriginal Victorians
- Victorians with disability
- Victorian priority jobseekers
For an example of this approach, refer to the Knoxbrooke Yarra View Nursery case study.
To get help from organisations that connect suppliers to social benefit suppliers, visit Support for suppliers.
Subcontract work to other mainstream suppliers
Some mainstream suppliers have groups facing barriers to employment on staff. Subcontracting work to these suppliers can help achieve social outcomes.
Some suppliers are based in areas with high levels of disadvantage and unemployment. Subcontracting to these suppliers also helps achieve social outcomes.
GROW helps businesses connect with others to achieve social outcomes.
GROW – G21 started in Geelong. It is now also in:
Support
For more information about social procurement, contact the Social Procurement team.
Updated