Fruit2Work, have arrived in Brisbane. The not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity provides meaningful employment for people impacted by the justice system. This gives a sense of purpose and creates the chance for them to rebuild their lives.
Scottish-born Rob Brown is the self-styled ‘chief chance creator’ who founded the organisation in 2017. He spoke to QSEC ahead of Fruit2Work’s arrival in Brisbane.
Fruit2Work is a multi award winning, certified not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity, delivering high quality fruit, milk, and pantry items, with a personalised service to workplaces. They deliver to customers located in and around Melbourne, Greater Geelong and Ballarat. In Brisbane they launched on Monday, 8 April 2024.
They became an independent Social Enterprise in 2018, received certification from Social Traders that year and were awarded Social Enterprise of the Year in 2020. Fruit2Work deliver to a number of surprising and prestigious customers including Melbourne University and The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and have already added John Holland, Kinetic, Herbert Smith Freehills, Thales, Mosaic and Fulton Hogan to their customer family in Brisbane.
The People
Every purchase from Fruit2Work is creating chances for people impacted by the justice system. “In selecting people, the key criteria are convincing us that you have decided to change the way you want to live and be better than you were yesterday,” Rob said.
In addition to providing a job, it provides empowerment, fostering self-worth, family ties, and community reintegration. Several wrap-around supports are included such as an in-house forensic psychologist and a professional 24/7 employee assistance program.
Why Brisbane?
Making a jump from Melbourne to Brisbane was unusual. The logical approach we thought would be to cross the NSW border and continue from there. But a meeting between Rob’s leadership team and a private philanthropist shaped the current direction.
The organisation welcomes philanthropic support for expansion but takes a view to not depend on it across business operations. “What we’ve committed to … is our business model will be break-even within 18 months, so we don’t rely on philanthropy on an ongoing basis,” Rob explains.
Operationally the facility at Archerfield is larger than the two combined separate facilities in Victoria. It has been deliberately scoped to allow Fruit2Work to scale. More than $400,000 has been spent on establishing the space in preparation for fresh fruit, milk, bread, and pantry items to be picked and packed for delivery. Tweaks have been made to “equipment channels” to counter Queensland’s hot climate. “You can keep a packet of chocolate biscuits in a warehouse in Victoria but in Queensland they would be hot chocolate.”
The reception we’ve had from everybody; government, business, QSEC has been absolutely amazing. It’s refreshing how positive it is.
– Rob Brown.
Recidivism Rates
The expansion to Queensland will provide a new outlet for the provision of rehabilitation and reintegration services to offenders. According to the Queensland Productivity Commission every month over 1,000 prisoners are released back into the community. Over 50 per cent will reoffend and return to prison or to a community correction order within two years. Without action to reduce growth, the government will need to build up to 4,200 additional cells by 2025. This will require investments of around $3.6 billion.
Given the unique approach Fruit2Work takes, those figures should take a positive hit. “We are unique in our approach in reducing recidivism,” says Rob. “Which is why in seven years not one Fruit2Work employee has reoffended. There is not any organisation in Australia that can put their hand up to that statistic.” The enterprise has created more than 150 job opportunities and successfully transitioned over 100 employees, supporting them to get back on their feet, gain ongoing employment, reconnect with family, and contribute to society in a meaningful way.
QLD vs VIC
Being in a position of running a social enterprise across two states we asked for a comparison when it comes to overall support.
“The reception we’ve had from everybody; government, business, QSEC has been absolutely amazing. It’s refreshing how positive it is,” Rob says of the Queensland response. “The only thing – and it is not a negative it is something that will mature through time – is the social enterprise infrastructure in Queensland is not as established or as robust as it is in Victoria.”
Rob points to the Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-2025. He highlights a Victorian mandate that “if you apply for a government contract you have to commit to a five to ten per cent of your procurement spend on social procurement”. Rob believes these expectations well and truly put procurement activity on everybody’s radar particularly from large construction companies who must provide scorecards relating to workplace diversity, equity and inclusion. 100 per cent of any spend with Fruit2Work can be counted towards social procurement government targets.
My Advice
As proud advocates of social enterprise we asked Rob the best advice he could give for anyone wishing to start a journey of positive change. “You need to have a sustainable business model,” Rob says. “You need to be honest with yourself about what that business model looks like.
“When my guys put the budget together for Queensland and I went through it we added 20 per cent to the cost and I added three months to the timing. Typically, people who want to get something done are blindsided by the fact reality gets in the way. Always, always, always caveat your numbers and timing. Under forecast and over deliver.”
Rob also encourages to ask yourself: “Why are you doing it?” He says if you can answer the question five times you know exactly why you are doing what you are doing.
“If you can grab an opportunity with both hands, it is spectacular what can happen.”
Queensland Contact
Fruit2Work are based in Archerfield. Deliveries began on Monday, 8 April. Phone: 1300 329 753. You can make an online enquiry.
