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Employing all abilities wins success

Published: 
25 September 2020 2:21PM

[Tracey, Ability Enterprises, Toowoomba QLD]:

My name is Tracey Scanlan. I'm the CEO of Ability Enterprises and we are a not-for-profit social enterprise working out of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

So at the moment we employ up to 78 people spread across probably 4 or 5 income streams or business streams.

By winning the Buy Queensland awards and the recognition that comes with it has allowed us to increase our staffing numbers by 14 to supply to QBuild and Carers Queensland.

Buy Queensland has also given our staff a sense of external recognition through the government.

We work for the Queensland government and we've been recognised for our successes so yeah, they wear it as a badge of pride now, they're really excited.

Toowoomba not-for-profit, Ability Enterprises has expanded their workforce since winning multiple awards at the Buy Queensland Supplier Awards in 2019.

Currently employing up to 78 people, Ability Enterprises is empowering Queenslanders by providing employment opportunities for people from marginalised backgrounds.

Ability Enterprises CEO, Tracey Scanlan, said that winning the awards has allowed them to leverage the recognition and secure a cleaning contract with QBuild and employing an additional 14 staff.

As well as cleaning, the not-profit operates across a range of industries, including waste management, a car washing business and maintenance.

Ability Enterprises places a high value on fostering meaningful employment opportunities and staff are supported with a safety-first culture, workplace induction, training and the chance to learn a variety of skills on the job.

Since 2012, the enterprise has supported more than 192 people with employment opportunities – and 10 per cent of people have moved onto secure full-time employment.

The organisation works alongside its staff and recently added trash-and-treasure outlets at waste management facilities. Fifty-six staff members nurture their passion for recycling, reusing and repurposing through the waste management contract, expanding through the entire Toowoomba region.

At the 2019 Buy Queensland Supplier Awards, Ability Enterprises won the Diversity in Procurement Award in both the regional and medium or large business categories.

In addition, for the Minister’s Buy Queensland Award, Ability Enterprises won and received a Highly Commended in the medium or large business and regional categories respectively.

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