The Power of One-of-a-Kind: Redefining awards through social enterprise
The Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP) aims to deliver practical economic, environmental, and social impact through procurement.
A collaboration between the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) and a social enterprise called Bloom Cycle demonstrated how leveraging procurement can help achieve social value.
The initiative:
- resulted in investing in a social enterprise
- created inclusive employment and environmental sustainability
- contributed to the broader objectives of the QPP.
Opportunity
The QFCC is a statutory body who are responsible for reviewing and improving the systems that protect and safeguard our children.
Every year, they hold a Youth Summit where young people present advocacy ideas directly to decision-makers and policy leaders and share practical recommendations to improve outcomes for children, young people, their families, and communities.
For the 2025 Summit, the QFCC needed custom speaker awards. The event management team recommended Bloom Cycle, a Brisbane-based social enterprise, to create the awards.
This was an opportunity for QFCC to combine high-quality event outcomes with broader social and environmental benefits.
Solution
QFCC decided to work with Bloom Cycle to create the speaker awards for the 2025 Youth Summit.
Founded by Zoe Atterbury, Bloom Cycle is a Brisbane-based, neurodivergent-led social enterprise that specialises in making premium custom trophies, awards, and recognition pieces made from reclaimed materials.
The business combines circular design, local manufacturing, and inclusive employment to help organisations recognise achievement in a way that reflects their values.
Bloom Cycle designed and handcrafted each speaker award using reclaimed timber and repurposed materials sourced in Queensland. Each piece was individually finished, creating a lasting symbol of the courage, leadership, and contribution shown by the young speakers.
Outcome
This initiative has delivered significant social benefits, including:
- Inclusive employment: Bloom Cycle creates meaningful employment pathways within a disability-led business model, providing opportunities for people who are often overlooked by traditional workplaces.
- Environmental sustainability: By transforming reclaimed timber and surplus materials into high-value products, Bloom Cycle diverts usable resources from landfill and reduces environmental impact.
For example, a plastic trophy made overseas creates approximately 2.4kg of carbon emissions (COâ‚‚-e), while a locally made Bloom Cycle trophy made from reclaimed Queensland timber creates approximately 0.08kg COâ‚‚-e.
QFCC acknowledged the value of partnering with a local social enterprise and the quality and thoughtful nature of the awards. The trophies aligned strongly with the Summit’s commitment to ensuring young people feel valued, respected, and heard.
QFCC’s decision to engage Bloom Cycle again for the 2026 Youth Summit reflects the quality, reliability and added value social enterprises can deliver through government procurement.
This partnership highlights how everyday purchasing decisions can create broader economic, environmental, and community outcomes while still achieving excellent service and product quality.
More information
To find out how your next procurement activity can support people from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds, or about procurement from social enterprises, email socialprocurement@hpw.qld.gov.au.
You can also find social enterprises recognised by the Queensland Government through the following directories:
- Social Traders Social Enterprise Finder
- People and Planet First social enterprises directory via Queensland Social Enterprise Council directory.