In a first for Australia, the New South Wales (NSW) Government has launched the Women-Owned Business NSW Initiative, making it easier for women-owned businesses to enter government and corporate procurement pipelines.
The Government invested $190,000 with Entrepreneurial & Small Businesswomen Australia (ESBWA) to support the development of the network, which will match women-owned enterprises with commercial businesses or NSW Government tenders under $3 million.
Created with the goal of registering 3,000 women on the database within three years, the initiative forms part of the NSW Government’s broader effort to improve women’s economic opportunities and advance gender equality.
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said the Government is working hard to empower women to dream big, start up and run their own businesses.
“Many women have fantastic business ideas, and just need a bit of a boost to turn them into something more,” she said.
“This new hub is a great way to connect women-owned and led businesses with NSW government tenders, so that we can use our buying power to really boost women’s opportunities.
“It’s not only good for women, but also great for our economy by increasing the diversity of suppliers.”
According to the 2021 census, women are currently under-represented in small business across New South Wales, often due to a lack of access to finance and formal networks.
The census showed approximately a third (34 percent) of NSW small business owners are women, while 66 percent of the state’s small business owners are men.
Globally, women-owned enterprises receive just one percent of government contracts and large-business supplier spending.
The Government has also funded free industry-specific procurement-readiness workshops with ESBWA to address existing knowledge barriers and provide practical strategies for navigating procurement pathways, plus a small business summit to help women connect and learn from each other.
ESBWA is funded through a range of sources, including government, corporate and project-based partnerships, while Women Owned Enterprises (WOE) operates as a dedicated brand of ESBWA.
“The core goal of ESBWA is to represent and advocate for women in business and entrepreneurship across Australia, ensuring women are visible, influential and economically powerful within policy, industry and enterprise,” said ESBWA Founder and CEO Amanda Rose.
“This is not just an announcement; it is the establishment of infrastructure. For the first time in Australia, there is a coordinated mechanism to identify, verify, prepare and actively connect women-owned enterprises into procurement supply chains.”
Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin said small businesses are the engine room of the NSW economy, but for too long many talented women entrepreneurs have operated under the radar.
“By investing in this database, we are shining a light on women-led enterprises and ensuring they are front and centre when it comes to major contracts and tenders,” she added.
“This initiative will open new doors for thousands of women in business, giving them the visibility, connections and confidence they need to grow and compete.”
