Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a social enterprise? Now is your opportunity to find out!

The Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA) invites you to a unique opportunity to engage with one of NSW's incredible social enterprises on a mission to help food entrepreneurs thrive: FoodLab Sydney

What to expect

Throughout the tour, you'll witness a bustling co-working commercial kitchen which is home to over 35 food entrepreneurs from refugee, migrant, female and First Nations backgrounds. Let their entrepreneurial spirit and passion fill the air (and smell of their delicious food).

The tour will include a talk from FoodLab Managing Director, Jamie Loveday, who will share FoodLab's evolution from its pilot training program in 2019 to the thriving operation it is today. Jamie will share FoodLab's impact and the rewards and challenges of operating a social enterprise.

Hear from one of FoodLab’s recent graduates as they share the impact of FoodLab’s support in their lives, families and communities, whilst teaching you how to prepare one of their favourite foods in a hands-on cooking experience.

After plenty of time for questions with the FoodLab team, you'll be guided around the FoodLab Community Garden - a space for refugees, migrants and other community members from diverse backgrounds to come together to grow fresh produce, learn gardening skills and build connections.

By participating in this unforgettable experience and supporting FoodLab, you are supporting gender, ethnic, and racial diversity within our local food system.

What to expect

Throughout the tour, you'll witness a bustling commercial kitchen where a variety of entrepreneurs (and commercial users') laughter, spirit and passion fill the air and the food they prepare. It'll stir your senses (and your tastebuds!)

The tour will start with a talk from FoodLab Managing Director, Jamie Loveday, who will share FoodLab's evolution from findings of academic research in 2018 and partnership program between the Sydney Environment Institute (at The University of Sydney) and City of Sydney in 2019 to the thriving operation it is today. Jamie will share FoodLab's impact and the rewards and challenges of operating a social enterprise.

Next you will hear from a food entrepreneur from FoodLab's 'Food Business Training - Learn & Launch' program. They will share their experience with FoodLab, what inspires them and what's keeping them busy in 2025!

After plenty of time for questions with the FoodLab team, you'll be guided around the FoodLab Community Garden - a space for refugees, migrants and other community members from diverse backgrounds to come together to grow fresh produce, learn gardening skills and build connections.

After selecting ingredients from the garden, you'll be treated to a cooking demonstration and tasting from one of FoodLab's food entrepreneurs.

By participating in this unforgettable experience and supporting FoodLab, you are supporting gender, ethnic, and racial diversity within our local food system.

Who is this tour for?

If you are:

a current or aspiring social entrepreneurs who want to see what it really takes to run a social enterprise;
decision maker in your organisation curious about social enterprise and how your organisation may support it; or
current or potential social enterprise funder eager to find out what's behind the proposal and pitches

...this tour is for you!

About FoodLab Sydney

The food and hospitality industry presents natural opportunities. Food is healing. It tells stories. It connects us to people, culture and home. But the barriers are high. Affordable kitchen space, startup capital, support networks, mentors and a supportive, welcoming community are hard to come by. That's where FoodLab comes in.

FoodLab Sydney is a not-for-profit kitchen incubator that supports food entrepreneurs from high-barrier backgrounds to grow and formalise their food businesses. They do this by providing affordable kitchen space for hire, technical assistance, and corporate catering. So many of us can relate to stories of migration and displacement, making a new start, creating a stable future. Despite major challenges, migrants, refugees, First Nations people and others from disadvantaged backgrounds have extraordinary potential to contribute to a flourishing small business community. Read more

"FoodLab has been my biggest support to date. It is because of FoodLab that I keep going, I have had more confidence and happiness than ever.I am now an independent business woman, starting my own market stall and catering with Malaysian recipes that I learned from my father.

- Malar, Founder of Sangee's Kitchen

Got questions?

For all tour enquiries, please contact hello@secna.org.au

This Behind the Scenes Tour is proudly supported by AMP Foundation and Westpac Foundation.