The development of Bedford Group's Advanced Manufacturing and Retail Hub in Salisbury is an exciting prospect for Dovetail, as it will be our new home from late in 2025.
Dovetail's operations at Salisbury will specialise in the manufacture of quality commercial timber products and furniture such as wardrobes, kitchen cabinetry and office fit-outs for consumers and businesses, further strengthening its advanced manufacturing capabilities and capacity.
This significant new site, one of the biggest of its kind in Australia, will enable Bedford-backed social enterprise Dovetail to further foster innovation, promoting advanced, lean manufacturing practices and integration of social responsibility into its operations.
The hub's construction also marks a pivotal time in Bedford’s 80-year history – a very proud history that has led Bedford to be the second largest employer of people with disability in Australia. Bedford and Dovetail are excited to be on the cusp of creating one of the largest social enterprise sites in Australia, in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.
It is Bedford's mission to create choice and opportunity for people with disability and it is proud to be taking a leadership role with a bold, contemporary and responsive 5-year Strategic Plan, which will see investment of over $50 million in new enterprises, facilities, services and opportunities.
The centrepiece of this Plan is the Advanced Manufacturing and Retail Hub, which will be home to Dovetail Advanced Manufacturing.
Bedford’s five-year plan is a market-making first in Australia, and involves developing a portfolio of commercial businesses that provide a diverse range of open employment opportunities for people of all abilities. These businesses will lead to more career pathways for people with disability, and an opportunity to earn a full award wage.
Over the last year, Bedford launched three Bedford-backed Social Enterprises, Cultivate Food and Beverage, GreenInc Landscape Construction, and Dovetail, all of which are providing open employment opportunities for people of all abilities.
The Advanced Manufacturing and Retail Hub will span around 20,000 square metres, and will also provide another site for Dovetail's sister social enterprise, Cultivate Food and Beverage.
Set to open later in 2025, the Hub will provide pathways into open employment for those who may otherwise experience barriers.
With this transition to open employment, there is a cascade of social, financial and health benefits for employees, in addition to the economic benefits that flow through to the government and broader community through increased wages, and therefore income taxes, reduction in Disability Support Pension payments and a reduction in NDIS reliance.
The Hub represents a significant $48.5 million investment being made with our partners Leyton Property and Leyton Funds. Once completed, the site will be one of the largest commercial greenfields developments in the state, and arguably the largest social enterprise site in Australia.
The Cultivate operations will provide large contract food manufacturing services and new product development. Full supply chain solutions will be available, including procurement, production, storage, logistics and packaging.
Everything Dovetail and Cultivate produces at this site will be done with purpose, creating meaningful employment opportunities for people with disability or experiencing barriers to work. And we can’t wait to move in and get started!