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Supporting
Employment and Economic Development (SEED) Winnipeg Inc. in
partnership with The
North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC) have developed
the Winnipeg Social Purchasing Portal to enable business and non-profit
organizations to work together to create meaningful employment opportunities
while also building stronger and healthier communities!
What is the Social Purchasing Portal?
The Social Purchasing Portal uses existing purchases of businesses' goods and services to expand business opportunities for suppliers who provide
an added social value. Every business uses office supplies, couriers, catering, promotional materials, and similar goods and services. Economic
and employment opportunities result from directing these existing business purchases to local businesses and social enterprises, which hire those who face barriers to employment.
How Does It Work?
The portal is a web-based, business-to-business database that facilitates these business relationships, which then trigger economic growth for
the suppliers, which in turn creates employment opportunities for individuals or groups who face multiple barriers to employment.
The portal provides Winnipeg corporations an
opportunity to engage in corporate social
responsibility by purchasing goods and services from
inner-city and social purpose businesses which hire
those who face barriers to employment. They do this
without spending any more money than they already do
on everyday expenses such as catering, cleaning and
printing.
Who Benefits?
The Social Purchasing Portal (SPP) is a win, win, win proposition...
- Participating purchasers continue to buy products and services
on the basis of price, quality and service.
- The portal adds yet another dimension to their purchases enabling
them to inject social value into their buying decisions, giving
them the opportunity to contribute to their community.
- Businesses that participate as suppliers of goods and services have access to new customers. Increased demand for their products and services enables them to become more sustainable. Suppliers post new positions with the SPP Employment Exchange which allows them to hire individuals from a population that faces barriers to meaningful employment.
- The following agencies are members of the SPP Employment Exchange: Alicia Rae Career Centre, Correctional Service Canada, Employment Projects of Winnipeg, Employment Solutions for Immigrant Youth, First Nations disABILITY Association of Manitoba, International Centre, North End Women's Centre, NECRC PATH Resource Centre, Opportunities for Employment,
Partners for Careers,
R.B. Russell Vocational High School,
Reaching E-Quality Employment Services (REES), Sara Riel, Spence Neighbourhood Association, Success Skills, Winnipeg Transition Centre, and Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S.).
- The Portal creates employment opportunities for many
groups of people including inner-city residents,
immigrants, youth-at-risk, those who have faced
long-term unemployment, and persons living with
disabilities - all of whom are trained, ready and
willing to work. The Portal gives potential employees
access to jobs that have been created by participating
suppliers. The removal of systemic barriers and the
creation of employment opportunities are a hand-up
rather than a hand-out, a second chance for people to
lead successful lives and feel a sense of purpose and
belonging in their communities.
Everybody wins!
How Successful Is It?
Vancouver's Fast Track to Employment (FTE) initiated the Social
Purchasing Portal in Vancouver in partnership with the BC Technology
Social Venture Partners. Since their June 2003 launch they have
attracted over 115 purchaser partners and 45 supplier partners.
The portal has created over 60 jobs and more than a million $ worth
of transactions have taken place. Winnipeg's Social Purchasing Portal,
launched in October 2004, is already on the way to becoming a similar
success story.
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