The positive impact of female-led businesses

There is a beautiful saying that perfectly describes the reasons why so many people choose to actively give of their time: “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” With International Volunteer Day on December 5, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the collective impact Women in Business Mornington Peninsula has made in the community.

Only two years since WiB was created, and with a small but purposefully growing membership of 52 female-led Peninsula-based businesses, it might come as a surprise to learn just how much positive impact this association and its members have had over the past year. In the lead-up to its AGM in August, WiB conducted an impact survey of its members to better understand the challenges and influences of the Peninsula’s businesses and business leaders and how WiB might best support them.

“What we learnt was even more amazing than we imagined,” said WiB chair Melissa Goffin. “Last year, WiB member businesses contributed over $52 million to our local economy. They collectively employed over 1300 people, with three out of four respondents having a workforce that comprised 75 per cent or more women. And 86 per cent described their social and environmental impact as either consistently part of their decision-making or an explicit measure of success for their organisation.

“With community focus and impact being a criteria of membership, we know that WiB members have these at the heart of what they do. What we were surprised to learn was how tremendously significant their economic contributions are. These figures are just incredible. The number of people – the majority women – employed by our member businesses is extensive, and we’re excited to learn about how far their impact can extend.”

The survey also highlighted another notable statistic: as a group, WiB MP businesses had donated 6318 hours of volunteer/community/charitable work to their local community with an equivalent dollar value of about $316,000.

“Our association’s value statement is to be a ‘force for good’, so it comes as no great surprise to learn our members are already living that ethos every day in both their professional and personal lives,” Melissa said. “As a community, we are so fortunate to have women driving such positive outcomes on the Mornington Peninsula.”

On International Volunteer Day and every day, WiB MP would like to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers who give their time so freely and generously to support a diverse range of community needs.

If you’d like to learn more about WiB MP, visit www.womeninbusiness.org.au