Helping Government and Business meet their social impact targets just got EASY with Everybody Saving Energy Pty Ltd
The lower social and economic statuses of Indigenous people in general throughout Australia are well known. Child mortality, education, life expectancy, employment, and equal opportunity are all well below national averages with State and Federal Governments, as well as good Corporate citizens developing programs and strategies to do their part in closing the gap.
Everybody Saving Energy Pty Ltd ABN: 36 166 476 446 (ESE) is a proudly 100% owned Indigenous business with proprietor Norm McPherson a descendant of the Wadawurrung Nation in Western Victoria. ESE has a national footprint of suppliers, installers, and consultants allowing us to work with businesses and governments to help them reduce their energy use through bespoke energy management plans, recommendation and provision of the right technology, and exceptional customer service.
This information brief highlights the way in which ESE as a registered Indigenous business through Supply Nation can not only reduce costs, carbon footprint, and save money for business and government, but can also help meet Reconciliation Action Plan and Indigenous Procurement Policy targets.
Supply nation is the industry standard to prove a business’ Indigeneity in Australia and with this accreditation you can be sure that ESE is legitimate and that procurement through us will contribute to meeting your goals.
Government – Indigenous Procurement Policy
Indigenous business owners represent approximately 6% of the Indigenous population compared to 17% of the broader Australian population. In addition it has been reported Indigenous businesses are 100 times more likely to employ Indigenous people in their enterprise, and therefore a growth in Indigenous businesses will not only create more economic success for the Indigenous owners, but it will help address the Indigenous unemployment rate with only 48% of Indigenous people in work compared to 72% of the broader population.
To spur growth in Indigenous employment and wealth the Commonwealth Government launched its Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) in July 2015. The purpose of this policy is to leverage the Commonwealth’s annual multi-billion-dollar procurement spend to drive demand for Indigenous goods and services and stimulate Indigenous economic development.
The targets for the IPP include 3% of all government contract expenditure to be awarded to Indigenous businesses, a mandatory set aside for remote contracts and $80k-$200k contracts, and a minimum Indigenous participation requirement in certain industries for contracts above $7.5m.
Each state government also has an Indigenous Procurement target or Indigenous business strategy that obligates them to create economic opportunities for First Australians. ESE as an Indigenous business is poised to not only accept government contracts directly but can also team with large corporations bidding on government work to help them meet their requirements for Indigenous participation on large contracts.
If you want more information on the Government’s Indigenous procurement opportunities and targets in your industry ESE can assist in providing more information if required.
Business – Reconciliation Action Plans
There is a realisation within business that money is no longer enough, with a social licence to operate being required to continue successfully operating, and a triple bottom line of Social, Environmental, and Financial returns the gold standard in corporate board reporting.
Business that want to do their part to close the gap and empower Indigenous Australia are increasingly looking to Reconciliation Australia as the lead body for reconciliation in the nation. Part of the work Reconciliation Australia does as a not-for-profit with organisations is to help them develop Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP).
A RAP is a strategic document that supports an organisation’s business plan. It includes practical actions that will drive an organisation’s contribution to reconciliation both internally and in the communities in which it operates. There are 4 levels of RAP (Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate) each with increasing levels of commitment and targets to working with Indigenous employees and businesses.
There are too many businesses with RAPs to be able to list them all here and too many different targets to summarise easily. What can be said though is that the opportunities to help companies with their RAP targets which can include employment and procurement targets through ESE’s suite of energy management and supply arrangements is huge. Companies with stretch RAPS (the highest level) include such icons of Australian business as Wesfarmers, ANZ Bank and the City of Adelaide, and other large ASX listed companies such as Westpac, Qantas, Telstra, Rio Tinto and BHP all having Elevate RAPS, the second highest tier.
If your business has a RAP and you want to know how ESE can help you meet your targets, or if you’re supplying goods and services to a major business with its own RAP, ESE can assist in enhancing your bid and social credentials.
This information is necessarily brief to give an overview of the business environment we’re in as the amount of different RAPs and IPPs around the country is a lot for anyone to take in (and that includes Indigenous businesses as well!). Talk to us at ESE today if you’re after more information on how we can work together.