MEFSC — Social Return on Investment 2025

SROI Report · December 2025

Manufacturing Excellence Forum · Sunshine Coast

Economic &
Social Impact

Independent evaluation by Front Communications using the Social Return on Investment methodology — covering 3 years of MEFSC operations across the Sunshine Coast manufacturing sector.

Explore the findings ↓

$21.5M

Annual value generated

$107:1

Return per $1 invested

350+

Network members

$20M+

Grants facilitated

Where value is created

Impact breakdown

SROI value by focus area

After deadweight, attribution & drop-off adjustments

Benefits cited by members

% of surveyed MEF members

How members engage with MEF

% participating in each activity

The investment case

Small budget,
massive return

$107

Generated for every $1 of MEF funding invested

Annual operating budget

~$200K

MEF operates with 1 funded FTE but delivers output equivalent to 3 FTEs through a mix of remunerated staff and contractors.

Annual value generated

$21.5M

Calculated conservatively — true value is likely higher, and excludes the broader economic multiplier effect across the Sunshine Coast.

New jobs facilitated

~75 jobs

Average $85K p.a. — including part-time to full-time conversions and retained local talent that would otherwise have left the region.

Grants & in-kind secured

$20M+

Over 3 years, credited in full or in part to MEF facilitation, member awareness, and guidance through complex grant processes.

Member voices

What the network says

Through MEF, I've come to realise that everything I need is on the Sunshine Coast and I don't need to source from other regions.

MEF Member — Manufacturing Business Owner

Why manufacture components in China, or elsewhere in Asia, when I can receive timely support and reliable quality on the Sunshine Coast?

MEF Member — Supply Chain

The strategic connections that MEFSC has facilitated for us have been incredibly valuable, providing tangible support in our business growth endeavors.

Tim Mobbs — MELEC

It is great to connect with like-minded individuals who can offer advice in areas of business I did not have a lot of knowledge of. MEF has exceeded my expectations.

Michael — Cutting Edge Canvas

Program highlight

eVTOL student outcomes

Students engaged

50+

30 core participants plus a broader cohort gaining hands-on CAD, engineering and business skills — with parents describing outcomes as "life changing."

Value per student

$56,540

Based on Queensland Government benchmarks for education engagement and lifetime earning capacity (Queensland Statistician Office, 2024).

Program total value attributed to MEF (post-adjustment)

$1,088,395

After applying deadweight (15%), attribution (25%) and drop-off (5%) adjustments per SROI methodology. Includes improved career direction, STEM engagement, mental health outcomes and university entry pathways.

How we calculate value

SROI methodology

Deadweight

Deducts outcomes that would have occurred without MEF intervention — assessed directly with participants to avoid over-stating benefits.

Attribution

Allows for external factors and third-party support that also contributed to outcomes, independent of MEF involvement.

Drop-off

Accounts for the extent to which benefits reduce over time — assessed conservatively to avoid over-stating ongoing value.

Displacement

Measures how much a positive outcome may displace another benefit elsewhere. Assessed as low given businesses are creating genuinely new value.