Politicians and stakeholders gathered at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre. Picture: Alison Wynd.
As bulk excavation at the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre gets underway, all levels of government are spruiking the job opportunities related to the $456m project.
At an on-site gathering of politicians and stakeholders this week, Regional Development Minister Gayle Tierney announced that the centre will support more than 1,400 jobs during construction and 700 ongoing jobs.
Notably, the development will also support a scheme that offers 28 apprenticeships for locals who have faced multiple barriers to employment. Development Victoria, Give Where You Live, and social enterprise Gforce have co-designed the scheme, and the Head Contractor, BUILT, is responsible for delivery.
Attendee Bill Mithen, the CEO of Give Where You Live, praised the scheme for valuing social outcomes and physical infrastructure and specifying the outcomes within the contract.
“For the first time as far as I am aware in the history of Victoria we have included in tender contracts specific social outcomes that all tenderers had to comply with. Once those contracts have been delivered we have penalties and abatements if those social outcomes aren’t achieved.”
Give Where You Live chief executive Bill Mithen. Picture: Alison Wynd.
Although some Australian companies have voluntarily engaged in social procurement for many years and are internationally recognised as pioneers, Mr Mithen may be right about the penalties and abatements.
First or not, however, the practice of specifying outcomes may prove increasingly appealing to policymakers.
Fortunately, we are here to help. Contact us today for a confidential discussion about how to specify, price, or comply with social procurement requirements for your projects.
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