An Aboriginal car-hire company lands an $8 million deal with a major mining organisation in the Pilbara

An Aboriginal-owned car-hire company has landed a massive deal with a mining giant to provide its services in the Pilbara. Cedrent Enterprises has been awarded a three-year $8 million deal to provide light-vehicle hire services to BHP across its Port Hedland and Newman operations in the Pilbara. Cedrent general manager Dan Walmsley said the partnership would allow the company to give back to the community. “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,” he 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.” The partnership will also see Cedrent’s services go to BHP operations in Olympic Dam in South Australia. Head of global Indigenous procurement at BHP, Chris Cowan, said the deal indicated his company’s commitment to providing business opportunities for Indigenous organisations. “BHP is committed to doing more to build sustainable, profitable, and enduring partnerships with traditional owners and Indigenous businesses across our operations, and we are working hard at all levels to make this happen,” he said. “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. “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.”