The University’s Central Procurement Office have been working with our suppliers to demonstrate how they support our Social Responsibility ambitions.

We have done this by offering all suppliers the opportunity to create a free sustainability action plan for their business and are sharing our learning with the publication of a new report demonstrating the impact from the first 1,000 suppliers accessing this support.

Using an online tool suppliers explore the impacts of their business so a bespoke action plan can be generated for them. Using the information, guidance and suggestions it provides they can initiate sustainability activity, share their progress or provide evidence of their sustainability activity.

Head of Procurement, Kevin Casey said: “Feedback from users has been positive so we know we are helping our suppliers with their own sustainability journey but at the same time we are gathering information that improves our relationship with them, which benefits everyone.”

The report outlines how the team are using the information to ensure supply chain risks are managed, develop new approaches to excellent procurement and to ensure future engagement with local and SME suppliers will meet their needs as well as our own.