Mai-Wel Enterprises Open Day: Purposeful partnerships in action

Connecting business with community impact

On Thursday 24 July, Mai-Wel Enterprises welcomed local businesses, procurement professionals, and community leaders to an Open Day at our Maitland-based facility. The afternoon was designed to showcase how our commercial services are delivered with purpose, combining operational excellence with meaningful social outcomes.

The event provided guests with the opportunity to connect with our team, view sample products and services, and engage in conversations about the role social enterprises play in supporting business objectives. Many attendees commented on how valuable it was to meet and interact with the supported employees who make our services possible.

The purpose behind the event

The Open Day was a great opportunity to both network and demonstrate the tangible value of partnering with a social enterprise.

We wanted attendees to see firsthand how Mai-Wel Enterprises can help organisations:

• Meet Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals through ethical and inclusive employment practices
• Support social procurement requirements while maintaining competitive, high-quality service delivery
• Enhance brand reputation and community goodwill by aligning with a purpose-driven supplier

By opening our doors, we aimed to create transparency about our capabilities and inspire new collaborations that deliver benefits for both businesses and the community.

Voices from the day

The event featured insights from both our ambassadors and employer partners. Our ambassador, Rae Anderson, spoke with guests about the importance of social enterprises in creating pathways for people with disability, while our employer ambassadors, Gemco Rail and Resourceful Living, shared the benefits they have experienced from partnering with Mai-Wel Enterprises.

Attendees represented a diverse range of sectors, including energy, manufacturing, transport, education, local government, disability advocacy, and business networks. This diversity reflects the broad applicability of social procurement and the shared value it can generate.

Building partnerships for the future

The Mai-Wel Enterprises Open Day highlighted how purposeful partnerships can meet operational needs while contributing to a stronger, more inclusive economy.

We are proud to provide ethical, cost-effective commercial services, from packaging and document destruction to commercial cleaning and grounds maintenance, delivered by a skilled workforce that includes people with disability working towards their individual employment goals.

We extend our thanks to everyone who attended, including representatives from AGL, Wesley Mission, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), Drivetrain, Cessnock City Council, Business Hunter, ARTC, Sydney Trains Intercity Services, Visy, the NSW Department of Education, Industrial Gaskets & Sealants, HunterNet Co-operative, Myrtec, and more.