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, Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) 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.

Social enterprises on our projects

Social enterprises are businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training.

As defined by Social Traders, they are businesses that derive most of their income from trade (not donations or grants) and use most of their profits (at least 50%) to contribute to their social mission. Folding the use of social enterprises into business as usual has been part of our commitment since 2016.

We've engaged the services of many local social enterprises on our level crossing removal projects. The businesses come from across a variety of industries including labouring, training, landscaping and gardening, catering and building and carpentry as well as Indigenous businesses.

Businesses recognised as social enterprises apply for contracts and work with our alliances and become a preferred supplier.

Social Procurement in Practice

In 2019, we developed Social Procurement in Practice, a practical resource to help Victoria’s transport and infrastructure industry increase social procurement, meet requirements and operate in line with Victoria’s Social Procurement Framework.

Read our Social Procurement in Practice resource