Circular Tech Social Enteprise takes Hume 2024 Circular Economy category award

The business award for Circular Economy was won by Enable Social Enterprise at the September 2024 Hume Business Awards, recognising significant social, environmental and economic impact being created by the stand-out social enterprise.

Founder and Managing Director, Julie McKay says “We have been involved with the ever-growing Hume City Council Business awards for many years now.  We understand and appreciate the magnitude of winning such an award and are honoured with the recognition of our Circular Tech initiative, creating jobs and distributing affordable Tech for disadvantaged community. 

According to the judges, the award win was on the back of Enable’s key strengths that set us apart. 

Innovation - taking a Circular Economy approach to e-waste

1.     We have designed and implemented 10 innovative work and learning stations to support employability skills and improve job prospects whilst embedding key sustainability principles of;

a.     reuse (asset grading and testing, data destruction)

b.     repair and tag and testing, (for retail)

c.     recycle (dismantling old technology ready for downstream recycling)

d.     rent (an innovative initiative renting old tech to film/production companies)

Diversity and inclusion champions

Enable are a non-government-funded employment, training or community services provider.  We operate commercially (with a charitable mission) with surplus from trade funding Enable’s social, environmental impact and ability to create local jobs for disadvantaged.  Since 2015, commercial trade has supported 1,653+ participants with employability skills and delivered 40+ employment pathway outcomes.  In 2023, a whopping 47% of Enable’s total wage spend for full award wage permanent and casual employees with disability and from migrant backgrounds.

 Tackling digital exclusion

Enable’s affordable) tech initiative has distributed 1,005+ devices to those in need through collaborating with 96+ fellow not-for-profit agencies via robust e-commerce platform rolled out in 2021 www.intheclick.org.au.  We’ve provided $33,822 Social Impact discount to help get tech out to those in need.