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Download resourceThe NSW Women‑Owned Business Initiative represents the next evolution of inclusive procurement. It creates a verified, credible pathway for strengthening women‑owned business participation in supply chains, tenders and government procurement.
Why creating opportunities for women-owned businesses in procurement matters
Women-owned businesses remain significantly underrepresented in government and private sector supply chains, despite their proven contribution to innovation, job creation and community resilience. Only 1% of government contracts globally go to women owned businesses. Structural barriers; limited visibility, lack of access to finance and formal networks, and systemic bias in sourcing and evaluation processes, often mean many capable women led businesses are excluded from procurement.
Establishing intentional pathways for women-owned businesses to participate meaningfully in procurement results in legacy social and economic outcomes ensuring women are given greater opportunities to achieve economic security. Research shows that when procurement actively recognises and uplifts women-owned suppliers, the results are:
- A more diverse and resilient supply chain
- Greater innovation, driven by different leadership styles, diversity of thought and problem-solving approaches
- Improved social and economic outcomes targeted at increasing diversity, equity and inclusion, and
- Alignment with modern procurement expectations where social impact considerations are now becoming core value drivers.
For government and industry, enabling women-owned businesses to participate in procurement is a direct lever to unlock broader participation, stimulate local economies and demonstrate meaningful social value.
How the NSW Women-Owned Business Initiative enables these opportunities
Building intentional pathways for women-owned businesses goes beyond equity, it is a strategic economic intervention, especially given that microbusinesses contribute to $265 billion in value add to the Australian economy, with a significant share of these being by women-owned.
The Women-Owned Business NSW Initiative, delivered through the Entrepreneurial & Small Business Women Australia (ESBWA) is the first dedicated procurement and certification initiative in Australia designed specifically to identify, verify and elevate women-owned suppliers. With a $190,000 investment from the NSW Government, this initiative will support ESBWA in developing the Women-Owned Business Australia Supplier Network, matching women-owned enterprises with commercial buyers and NSW Government tenders.
The new initiative creates opportunities by:
- Establishing a Women-Owned Supplier Database dedicated to women-owned businesses of all sizes, connecting them with buyers actively seeking diverse suppliers.
- Providing formal certification for women-owned businesses that are at least 50% women-owned, strengthening credibility in procurement processes.
- Building visibility through a recognised accreditation that procurement teams can actively search, prioritise and track.
- Embedding women-owned businesses into procurement pipelines, making them discoverable and contractable.
- Strengthening capability, with free workshops and online masterclasses designed to strengthen procurement capability and business development.
- Aligning with government and corporate social procurement frameworks, enabling buyers to meet diversity and inclusion targets.
Conclusion
Through the introduction of Victoria’s Social Procurement Framework, we have seen an increase in the number of women‑owned businesses participating in government procurement. While this progress is encouraging, there remains substantial room to expand and deepen this movement. The launch of the NSW Women‑Owned Business Initiative represents a significant step forward, marking a pivotal shift toward more meaningful and sustained participation of women-owned businesses in procurement.
How this aligns with Sedo Group’s Work
As a women‑owned business, Sedo Group knows how important it is to have fair opportunities to participate in government procurement. This initiative directly aligns with our vision to empower businesses to navigate procurement and compliance, whilst promoting impactful outcomes such as supplier diversification, women’s gender equitable outcomes and inclusive employment.
How can Sedo Group help
As experts in strategic and social procurement, Sedo Group is uniquely positioned to support women-owned businesses to access, navigate and succeed in procurement. Drawing on our core capabilities across procurement strategy, social procurement and government readiness, we help businesses understand policy requirements, strengthen their commercial positioning and build the confidence to engage with government procurement.
Our approach is practical, supported and outcomes-focused, empowering business to convert opportunity into long-term growth and meaningfully participate in procurement.
Get in touch with Sedo Group today to explore how your organisation can engage women‑owned businesses within your supply chain, or if you are a women‑owned business, how you can strengthen your competitiveness in government procurement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NSW Women-Owned Business Initiative in procurement?
The NSW Women-Owned Business Initiative is a government-backed program designed to increase participation of women-owned businesses in procurement. It creates a verified supplier network, enabling buyers to identify, engage, and contract certified women-owned businesses more easily.
Why are women-owned businesses underrepresented in government procurement?
Women-owned businesses face structural barriers including limited visibility, reduced access to finance, and fewer established networks. These challenges, combined with bias in sourcing and evaluation processes, often restrict their participation in supply chains and tenders.
How can businesses engage women-owned suppliers in their procurement strategy?
Businesses can engage women-owned suppliers by integrating supplier diversity targets, using verified supplier databases, and aligning procurement processes with social procurement frameworks. Working with a specialist like Sedo Group helps translate these requirements into practical, compliant strategies.
What are the benefits of supplier diversity in procurement?
Supplier diversity strengthens supply chain resilience, drives innovation through diverse perspectives, and supports better social and economic outcomes. It also helps organisations meet government expectations around social value and inclusion in procurement.
How can women-owned businesses improve their chances of winning government contracts?
Women-owned businesses can improve success by strengthening their understanding of procurement policies, aligning with social procurement requirements, and improving tender responses. Sedo Group supports this through strategy, training, and bid readiness services tailored to government expectations.