BHP has awarded Aboriginal-owned car hire company, Cedrent Enterprises (Cedrent) a three-year, $8 million contract to provide light vehicle hire services in South and Western Australia.
The contract will allow BHP employees to access short or long-term vehicle hire from the Olympic Dam operation in South Australia and across the Newman and Port Hedland sites in the Pilbara.
“This collaboration with BHP not only underscores our shared commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development but also fuels our efforts to create opportunities within the First Nations business sector,” Cedrent general manager Dan Walmsley said.
“We’re also proud to be providing a portion of our profits to Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation in SA, or Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation in WA, which are both devoted to giving back to their communities through programs that upskill youth, support local businesses, and create a growing demand for Indigenous goods and services.”
BHP head of global Indigenous procurement Chris Cowan said the partnership is another step toward building partnerships with Traditional Owner and Indigenous businesses.
“By selecting Cedrent’s services when hiring vehicles for work, our people will be supporting a business that creates opportunities for First Nations people, prioritising Indigenous community engagement, job creation and procurement,” he said.
“It’s the first time an Indigenous-owned business has been awarded a contract of this type with BHP, and we look forward to working together to help empower more Indigenous businesses and communities across Australia.”
