South Australian disability services provider Bedford is partnering with, property developer Leyton Property and funds manager Leyton Funds to build a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing hub in Adelaide’s north expected to be worth over $45 million once completed.
The partners believe the hub will be Australia’s largest social enterprise site, offering employment opportunities to people of all abilities.
Bedford COO Social Enterprises Sam Hunter said the development would allow the organisation to specialise in advanced manufacturing across several fields, including furniture making, the supply of components to the commercial joinery and construction industry, and food and beverage.
“The investment will significantly increase Bedford’s manufacturing capability to deliver a world class commercial product to the market. This will include an investment in the latest automation and robotics technology,” Hunter said.
Adjacent to the new advanced manufacturing facility will be a first-class Food and Beverage hub with hospitality retail offerings including commercial kitchen, beverage production facilities, and a public entertainment area.
The hub will be home to Bedford’s first social enterprise called Cultivate Food & Beverage, which recently opened its first site in Brooklyn Park.
This social enterprise provides a full supply chain solution for medium and large size food and beverage producers that have a national footprint.
The centre will provide ongoing employment for more than 200 people when complete.
Bedford CEO Myron Mann said that, pending council approval, construction was expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2025.
“Bedford has a long and successful history of manufacturing in South Australia. This investment in our future will enable us to grow, innovate and manufacture at scale while remaining true to our purpose to provide choices in skill-building and career pathways.
“As a social enterprise it will be a vibrant place to work, offering high-value roles and transferrable skills for employees of all abilities. Jobs will include joiners, machine operators, production workers, chefs, supervisors and apprentices, in a supportive and inclusive environment,” Mann said.
The site was chosen for its freight route among other strategic reasons.
“It will support Bedford to maintain and grow our existing manufacturing contracts and provide opportunities for new partnerships, in particular food and beverage producers north of Adelaide and across the state,” Mann said.
He added that Bedford was pleased to work with Leyton Property as development partner and Leyton Funds as long-term investment partner to help bring Bedford’s vision for the site to life.
Leyton Property managing director Hamish Brown said, “Leyton Property is thrilled to be working with Bedford on this exciting property development.
As a real estate asset, this will be an exceptional new industrial property, well located and highly accessible with a strong tenant in the Bedford Group,” Brown said.
For Leyton Funds managing director Warwick Mittiga, co-investing with Bedford on the premium grade industrial property fitted with its investment objectives as well as supporting long-term social benefits.
“As a social enterprise, it provides a platform to support Bedford to grow employment pathways,” Mittiga said.
Bedford’s investment forms part of its five-year Future Bedford masterplan announced in November 2022.
Bedford engaged property advisory firm Broadway Property to source and secure the site and guide the joint venture partnership arrangements.
The development will be located on what is expected to be one of South Australia’s largest commercial greenfield development sites on Main North Road in Salisbury South.
Approximately 100 jobs are expected to be created during construction.
