Social enterprises are an innovative breed of businesses that exist to create a fairer and more sustainable world, and the sector is rapidly growing in Australia. Purpose is at the heart of what they do, as they strive to deliver positive social and environmental impact.

In the latest Pace23 report, certified social enterprises have employed 31K people, 45% of which would usually be shut out of work. They also generate $1.74B of total revenue coming from the goods and services they provide, with 31% of total revenue reinvested into delivering impact.

November 16 is Social Enterprise Day, part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, and we celebrate these trailblazers who are revolutionising the purpose beyond profit model.

Here are five ways to start celebrating and supporting social enterprises this month and beyond.

1. Buy from social enterprises

There are about 12,000 social enterprises in Australia and many provide ethically and sustainably sourced gifts and even everyday goods from soaps, toilet paper to apparel. There are also social enterprises that offer catering and dining experiences, providing employment opportunities to marginalised communities. Donate or purchase directly from these businesses to help support their mission and help grow the sector. Switch your spend for good. Find a social enterprise near you.

2. Learn about social enterprises

Take some time to learn more about the social enterprise model and sector in Australia. Understanding their purpose, business model and impact can help you appreciate their work. A good source of information is the Social Traders Impact Report – which unpacks the economic and impact contribution of certified social enterprises nationally.

3. Collaborate for growth

If you have a business or lead a large corporate or government agencies, consider collaborating with a social enterprise to support their mission. This can be in the form of partnerships, purchasing their products or services, sponsoring or mentoring them to enable opportunities for growth.

4. Volunteer

Offer your time and skills to a social enterprise in your local community. Many social enterprises rely on volunteers to help them achieve their social goals. Whether it’s helping them on the ground or providing your knowledge and experience, volunteering is greatly way to show your support and give back to your community. You’ll feel good doing it too.

5. Raise awareness

Host a workshop, panel discussion, or a webinar on social enterprise-related topics. Invite experts or social enterprise founders to share their experiences and insights. If you’re already doing social procurement, you could organise an event or share stories among your stakeholders, to showcase the positive experience and impact you’re seeing by embedding social enterprises in your supply chain.

Let’s take the time to support and celebrate the positive social and environmental impact social enterprises are making.

Through our collective efforts, we can make social enterprises the norm in shaping the purpose economy.