Social procurement

In January 2016, the Victorian State Government announced the Major Projects Skills Guarantee which will improve the skills and job prospects of local apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets, and give them the opportunity to work on some of Victoria's biggest projects.

In February 2016, the State Government announced its Social Enterprise Strategy, which aims to strengthen the social enterprise sector and create more jobs for disadvantaged Victorians.

In response, LXRA was the first Victorian government organisation to adopt a Social Procurement Policy, promoting the use of social benefit suppliers alongside the government strategy. Its purpose is to ensure we not only procure goods and services efficiently, but generate positive social outcomes while we do so.

How LXRA has used social enterprises

Knoxbrooke Enterprises' Yarra View Nursery is a wholesale social enterprise nursery that has provided the Bayswater and Heatherdale level crossing removal projects with plants and landscaping services.

In May 2018, it was announced that Yarra View Nursery would supply more than 100,000 Australian native plants for the Mernda Rail Extension Project.

The Bayswater LXRA team and social enterprise Nadrasca have partnered to deliver positive change at a local level, producing LXRA print collateral.