With continuing low unemployment rates and employment shortages continuing to be a hot topic across Bendigo, it is great to see more businesses recognising the importance of working together to find innovative ways to employ inclusively, by providing new pathways for people to find work.

Growing Regional Opportunities for Work (GROW Bendigo) is a state-funded collective impact initiative with business, government, community organisations and individuals, working together to grow our community and in turn provide employment opportunities – particularly for those most in need of employment and support into the workforce.

At the most recent GROW Compact Signatory meeting, three new businesses were welcomed into the fold, including: JL King, Sisterworks and DP Rogers Painting. We will be sharing more information about the great work they are doing over the next few months.

GAME Traffic & Contracting – an inaugural signatory in 2018 – also presented on their innovative business model which includes their social enterprise arm, Geared4Careers, a not for profit that provides over 1,000 disadvantaged students across 13 secondary schools in North East and Central Victoria, with support to become job ready.

“All of these organisations are successful, expanding businesses and social enterprises who are looking to take their organisations to the next level by being part of the GROW Bendigo collective,” said Petra McLoughlin, GROW Project Manager.

In a time when social procurement targets are becoming the norm, this presents an important opportunity for regional businesses to create a steady pipeline of business, through transitioning their business models to focus on where they spend locally and socially for maximum impact.

Greg Painter from City of Greater Bendigo who spoke at the signatory meeting, explained that: “proposed changes to the city’s procurement would see the movement to 20% of procurement spend being required to be local, with a specific focus on supporting social enterprise.”

Greg also explained that they planned to include GROW Bendigo membership in their procurement schedule.

Be.Bendigo’s CEO, Rob Herbert said: “As the backbone organisation for GROW, we are thrilled to see the enthusiasm that is being demonstrated by signatories to roll-up their sleeves and work together to find solutions that aren’t just good for business, but good for the community as a whole”.

If you would like to find out more about how being part of GROW Bendigo can benefit your organisation, please contact Petra McLoughlin today: pmcloughlin@bebendigo.com.au